Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

I read this a number of years ago and am giving it another look for obvious reasons. If you want actual knowledge (in layman's terms) about how viruses work, this is a good place to start. It is both a perspective check and a cautionary tale.

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Influenza-Deadliest-Pandemic-History/dp/0143036491

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

We lost more men to the flu in 1918 than we did in W.W. I

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

We lost more men to the flu in 1918 than we did in W.W. I

twowindsbear

There was a very interesting article about flu in an issue of Smithsonian magazine several months ago. You're on your own tracking it down though. It was published when H1N1 was the epidemic / pandemic 'thing.'

pendennis

My son is a paramedic/ER Tech at a hospital. They're absolutely overrun with folks who "know" they have the Corona Virus. Not one case yet, even though there are a number here in Michigan. The resources in most ER's will never be able to handle the expected onslaught.

He's also a diabetic, and the CVS drugstore is triaging prescriptions; evidently doctors are writing antibiotic prescriptions for viruses because their patients are demanding it. He has had a two day delay in getting his test strip script filled. These doctors, if the folks have a virus, should be telling folks to drink large quantities of Gatorade.

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

I had not heard of test strips being rationed. People who are not around diabetics don't appreciate how critical these supplies are. He might try Amazon, with next say delivery. Insurance might not cover it, but for an emergecy supply it would be better than doing without.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Not to belittle the disaster, but there are silver linings. I’m travelling with my RV. National Park crowds already gone.

Bill_de Loc: US

Could it have been a couple of years ago?

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/journal-plague-year-180965222/

Google found it with a search of "H1N1 was the epidemic Smithsonian magazine"

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cdayton

I’ve gotten my flu shot annually since reading Barry’s book many years ago.

twowindsbear

Yes. That is the article I had in mind. Thanks for posting the link.

Michael1079 Loc: Indiana

Bazbo, thanks for posting this. I saw something on CNN today that just really surprised me.
On 15 Mar 2020 Leah Asmelash, CNN, had an article entitled, "In 1918, Philadelphia didn't cancel an important parade in the midst of a pandemic. The results were devastating," In this article she states that "At first, the virus was just in Spain, where 80% of the population was affected. The virus seemed far away."
This statement is incredibly false, and so very irresponsible. Most everyone understands that the "Spanish flu" (H1N1) likely originated in Kansas, and was propagated by the mass movements of US troops across the country and then overseas in World War 1. Because of the demoralizing effect news of the pandemic would have had on the Allied and Central Powers engaged in World War 1, countries resisted reporting the outbreak. Spain, which was neutral during the Great War, was not under any such censorship constraints, and so they were able to report on the pandemic. And so it became known as the Spanish Flu.
This CNN reporter needs to read "The Great Influenza" by John M. Barry.

tuatara Loc: Orig. NZ - currently SF area

A high schooler in WA state created this web site because he wanted some context. While the covid-19 is a disease to be taken very seriously, especially as containment seems our only option at the moment, reporting and reaction to it are way out of control, imo.
Context is everything, for instance,there are over 300 million people in the US, less than 3000 are confirmed and less than 60 have died. Italy >60m < 1500 died.

here is the link, https://ncov2019.live/data

Just be conscious and careful but DON'T panic, you can't possibly need that much TP .
If you are interest in an interview with him, https://www.democracynow.org/

Daryls Loc: Waco, TX

Another excellent book that also discusses and then analyzes the Spanish Flu pandemic as well as the plans and procedures of the USA regarding pandemics is Three Seconds Until Midnight. It is easy to read, well-written for the lay person, and the facts are well researched and referenced. It is a long book, but I highly recommend it. You can get it in paperback or Kindle versions from Amazon at

https://www.amazon.com/Three-Seconds-Midnight-Steven-Hatfill-ebook/dp/B07ZYFWQ5G/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2F0MFEK68YFJP&keywords=3+seconds+until+midnight&qid=1584287762&sprefix=3+seconds%2Caps%2C344&sr=8-1

Daryl

pendennis

His wasn't so much being rationed, as it was being put at the "back of the line" re customer service.

Our point was that some doctors tend to get sympathetic at times when cold reasoning is needed. I'm reading "The Great Influenza..." now, and in an early chapter, this is discussed. This book is fascinating reading!!!

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

Yes, these facts are well documented in the book.

H1N1 reappeared decades later but did not become the devastating pandemic of because (although it was bad enough) of a number of things, including a netter understanding of how viruses work (and the appropriate response to them) and when it reappeared it was not new, so there was a certain level of herd immunity built up. This current virus is so dangerous because humans have almost no immunity to it.

Modern medicine will keep the death toll far below the 1918 pandemic but the infection rate could be near the same levels of 1918.