The current outbreak of swine flu is generating news around the world… and many are looking to history to put everything in perspective.
I’m Valerie Chew, and you’re watching Newsy.com.
As concerns rise of a global flu pandemic, eyes are turning to history to assess the potential risk. Some are pointing to similarities between the current flu scare and the Spanish influenza epidemic that occurred in 1918.
“What’s very scary is that in Mexico the people who have died have been in their 20s and 30s and 40s. And when that starts to happen, that’s the kind of flu that occurred in 1918 and killed millions and millions of people around the world.” (MSNBC)
The New York Times explains just how bad the 1918 flu epidemic was.
“It was 25 times more deadly than normal influenza and if such an epidemic came today, killing a similar number of Americans, 5 million Americans would die.” (The New York Times)
Some point out that this flu is different—and is perhaps spreading faster—than the 1918 flu.
“In 1918, they didn’t have commercial air travel so the virus was spread by troop movements in World War I from continent to continent. Today, everything goes faster. The speed of this is breathtaking. And it’s because everyone’s on the move and we have airplanes.” (CNN)
Although this flu outbreak has pandemic potential, some warn against overreaction.
The Gawker begins one of its articles,
“Did you know that America had another swine flu panic, in 1976? Let’s reminisce, and laugh.” (The Gawker)
During the 1976 flu scare, all American citizens were encouraged to get inoculated with public service announcements like the following:
“Swine flu? Man, I’m too fast for that to catch me. You’ll want to be protected. I’m the healthiest 55 year old you ever seen. Hey, I play golf every weekend. Get a shot of protection. The Swine Flu Shot." (Capital Century)
In the end, only one person died in 1976 of the swine flu. But, according to Paul Mickle of The Trentonian,
“Hundreds of Americans were killed or seriously injured by the inoculation the government gave them to stave off the virus.” (The Trentonian)
So what do you think?...
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