I had Asian flu (China was the origin!). At age 11 after earlier childhood of rheumatic fever and being kept out of school in 1954 and not allowed any gym class or sports or play time, here I was sick in bed.
I distinctly listening to the small am radio by my bed and hearing over and over “beep,beep,beep” “That sound is from space where the Earth has a new second Moon, the Soviet Sputnik now circling the globe.”
Analysis was that the Soviets could now use space satellites to bomb and destroy the United States.
News stories also discussed the thousands of people dead rom the Asian flu from which I then suffered. Not comforting.
distinctly remember....
That’s an amazing story. Simpler days for sure. I was born in 1971. Before the days of smart phones, Internet, and cable tv, radio was still a big thing. Spent countless nights in the late 70’s and early 80’s listening to the Cincinnati Reds. We were able to pick up a signal from WLW in Cincinnati. Good memories.
FWIW the 16th Century Black Plague originated in China.
What is it about Chine and infectious diseases?