The flu can kill tens of millions of people. In 1918, that’s exactly what it did

washingtonpost.com ^ | 1/26/2018 | Ashley Halsey III

[rktman]

The flu arrived as a great war raged in Europe, a conflict that would leave about 20 million people dead over four years.

In 1918, the flu would kill more than twice that number — and perhaps five times as many — in just 15 months. Though mostly forgotten, it has been called “the greatest medical holocaust in history.”

Experts believe between 50 and 100 million people were killed. More than two-thirds of them died in a single 10-week period in the autumn of 1918.

Never have so many died so swiftly from a single disease. In the United States alone, it killed about 675,000 in about a year — the same number who have died of AIDS in nearly 40 years.

[Karliner]

So, is this financed by the flu shot company? Too bad the strain isn’t even in the syringe.

[rktman]

Everybody has circumstances. Prayers up for your wife.

[henkster]

Thank you.

[rktman]

And, total population wise, not even a drop in the bucket that we nearly kicked.

[43north]

The 1918 Flu Pandemic killed more American soldiers in their barracks preparing to embark to “The Great War” in Europe than in enemy action.

Viruses were not even known about in 1918. Most of the deaths occurred in the 20-40 age group. They had not been previously exposed to the flu viruses that the older folks had. The virus mutated into a killer and caused the immune systems of the people who contracted it to go into overdrive. They developed rapid pulmonary edema and that is what killed them. If you read any of the eyewitness accounts by medical providers who were there it was a horrible way to die.

In 1918 there were no respirators or steroid drugs that could be used now for treatment. There were no flu vaccinations available then either. We are protected by a certain amount of “herd immunity” because a lot of people do get vaccinated. Including me.

[rjsimmon]

Hmmmm. Maybe new math rounds all those years up to 36,000. Just sayin’. LOL!

I included the first column deaths which the CDC directly attributed to influenza or associated pneumonia. If the second column deaths are included (respiratory and circulatory) then they are much higher (ie. 2010-2011: 13,541 + 39,008 = 52,549), see how that works?

[Article10]

Correct, late teens to mid thirties age bracket... pushed a healthy immune system into overdrive, fluid filled lungs, heart failure in hours.. pretty rough

[rktman]

Yup, math fudging to get desired results.

[rjsimmon]

Read the article, there are so many weasel words in their about states not reporting and other stuff. Plus, how many of those are over 36,000? Oh, that would be none.

Nearly ALL are over 36,000 (exept 2011-2012 which is 16,336) if respiratory and circulatory deaths are included. These are all complications of the influenza virus, but could be non-associative, which is why the CDC distinguishes them.

Plus, not to be morbid or sound uncaring, but about 7000 people die a day in the US of all causes, so even the 19000 over a flu season isn’t out of the ordinary for total deaths.

No argument there. The CDC is as political as any gov branch and their numbers can be convoluted to fit practically any narrative, but they do try to be accurate in their reporting.

[rjsimmon]

CDC reports on all causal factors of death. A person could have the flu but die in a knife fight and the CDC would report both.

[Qiviut]

Someone posted this link on another flu thread and they were talking about taking Vit D for the flu - looks interesting. Here’s the link & the last paragraph. BTW, if you’re taking Vit D, you should also be taking K2.

Vitamin D for influenza
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4463890/

A colleague of mine and I have introduced vitamin D at doses that have achieved greater than 100 nmol/L in most of our patients for the past number of years, and we now see very few patients in our clinics with the flu or influenzalike illness. In those patients who do have influenza, we have treated them with the vitamin D hammer, as coined by my colleague. This is a 1-time 50 000 IU dose of vitamin D3 or 10 000 IU 3 times daily for 2 to 3 days. The results are dramatic, with complete resolution of symptoms in 48 to 72 hours. One-time doses of vitamin D at this level have been used safely and have never been shown to be toxic.8 We urgently need a study of this intervention. The cost of vitamin D is about a penny for 1000 IU, so this treatment costs less than a dollar.

[pas]

Because there is always a Arquillian battle cruiser ready to destroy our plant and the only way they go on with their lives is they don’t know.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks rktman.

In the United States alone, it killed about 675,000 in about a year -- the same number who have died of AIDS in nearly 40 years.

The CDC estimate for flu and influenza-related infection mortality is about 36,000 per year, or less than 1/100th of a percent of the total US population. Also, in 1918 the US population was a great deal lower, making that 675K figure a big percentage of the total. Flu epidemics that carried off many were common in the 19th century.

OTOH, just cruising the influenza and flu keywords here, one would think that each year's flu outbreak was about to kill everyone and the gubmint knew about it so it tried to hide it. For less paranoia and more information, try the Gina Kolata keyword.

[rktman]

🤔. My Mom (rest her soul) slipped and fell once and a wine bottle she was carrying broke and cut her hand pretty badly. Yup, alcohol related injury. 😹🍾

[jmacusa]

“Well duh. Just put up signs like they do for “No guns allowed’’. Yeah...like totally. ‘Cuz like the flu is like rilly, rilly bad ‘n’ stuff and if people like .. didn’t get it then like nobody would have it ‘n’ stuff. There should like be a law that says the flu is bad n’ stuff. Its all Trumps fault too.

[rktman]

You forgot about the rooskies helping spread it.

[rjsimmon]

A friend of mine who is a MD told me that during research on new drugs, they are required by law to list as a warning every possible side-effect and death while that drug was being studied; to include a death that occurred during one study that involved a person being hit by a bus.

I can see that on a warning label for Viagra:

“May cause death by bus.”

[SunkenCiv]

Gina Kolata, author of "Flu" -- her keyword, newest to oldest:

• The flu can kill tens of millions of people. In 1918, that's exactly what it did [2018]
• How Does the Flu Actually Kill People? [2017]
• The Frog Slime Cure for Flu [2017]
• Frog snot gives hope for flu cure [2017]
• The U.S. Military and the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919 [2015]
• End of common cold could be in sight [2015]
• OSCILLOCOCCINUM: Yay or Nay? [2014]
• Scientists Discover First 'Virological Penicillin'(Honeysuckle) [2014]
• Look Back 250 • Quarantine during 1918 Spanish flu epidemic saves lives [2014]
• Enterovirus D68 And Influenza Far More Dangerous Than Ebola In U.S., Say Top Physicians [2014]
• The Next Pandemic [2014]
• Hospitals Full-Up: The 1918 Influenza Pandemic (Video) [2012]
• Diary From The HMNZ Tahiti During The 1918 Pandemic [2012]
• Synthetic protein kick-starts the immune system to prevent all strains of the flu [2012]
• UCLA scientists find H1N1 flu virus prevalent in animals in Africa [2011]
• NIH scientists find earliest known evidence of 1918 influenza pandemic (and more) [2011]
• New study re-examines bacterial vaccine studies conducted during 1918 influenza pandemic [2010]
• Chronicle of the Devastating Flu Epidemic is Frightening, Readable [2009]
• Earlier flu viruses provided some immunity to current H1N1 influenza, study shows [2009]
• Soldier's Letters Give First-Hand Look at Spanish Flu Pandemic [2009]
• Samples taken from 90-year-old body of Spanish flu victim Sir Mark Sykes [2009]
• Survivors of 1918 Flu Pandemic Immune 90 Years Later [2008]
• Study Shows Why the Flu Likes Winter [2007]
• When killer flu struck [ "Spanish Lady" flu, 1918 ] [2006]
• Past may hold clue to future flu fight Secrets may be in blood of 1918 survivors [2006]
• The Bird Flu Breakdown - Part 1: Two Children in Vietnam [2006]
• Bird flu's evolution, links to 1918 pandemic studied, debated [2005]
• Experts Unlock Clues to Spread of 1918 Flu Virus [2005]
• Deadly 1918 Epidemic Linked to Bird Flu, Scientists Say [2005]
• Scientists: 1918 Killer Spanish Flu Was a Bird Flu [2005]
• Saline spray may help control flu [2004]
• Deadly Flu Outbreak: Is History Repeating Itself? [23,000 victims in Madagascar] [2002]

[mad_as_he$$]

Washoe County has a total of 15 flu deaths this season. Mostly people over 65. I think what nails you this season is a follow on infection that rages rapidly through the body.

[SoCal Pubbie]

When the virus first hit in 1918 it was the usual victims that died-the young and elderly. In the second wave the healthy strong demographic you described began dropping like flies. Recent thought I’ve read indicates it may not have been a mutating virus after all. Debate is ongoing on many aspects of the Spanish Flu pandemic.