[ealgeone]

there was a higher degree of trust in government in 1918.

there was also the lack of the cdc and other entities with somewhat questionable motives.

I'd also venture the Spanish Flu (how racist is that!) wasn't politicized either. There was no crying about the name of the stupid thing like we have over the China/Wuhan/Covid-19 virus.

[rmichaelj]

“Spanish flu”
And unlike the Chinese virus, Spanish flu did not even originate in Spain.

[DugwayDuke]

ealgeone wrote: “there was a higher degree of trust in government in 1918.”

The government actively suppressed information on the flu to avoid interfering with the war effort. The government actively encouraged war bond rallies, etc.