The Spanish flu in 1918 was an influenza pandemic that had spread all over the world. Most of the fallen victims of the pandemic were healthy young adults, which is not typical to most influenza outbreaks which typically affect the very young or very old and weak patients. This flu first begin in March of 1918 and lasted all the way through June of 1920, spreading as far as the Arctic and the most remote Pacific islands. It is estimated that between 50 and 100 million people died, making it one of the most deadly pandemics and natural disasters in the history of the world. Overall, 500 million people were infected with the disease, an overall 1/3 of the Earth’s population.

The Spanish Flu in 1918 has raised many questions as to the origins of the disease, the features of the disease, and the way it struck its victims. These questions have still gone unanswered with many theories. The pandemic itself caused great uproar amongst the public and caused great fear that still remains today.

Today, people are comparing the Spanish Flu in 1918 to today’s latest H1N1 pandemic. It is said that this new H1N1 strain is very similar to the Spanish flu that struck in 1918. The nature of the disease and who it strikes is unpredictable with a similar source. The effect it has on the human is also very similar which is why the concern of for the H1N1 pandemic is so great. Doctors and scientists today look toward the past of the Spanish Flu in 1918 in order to better understand it in hopes of finding implications for the present.