With d w. Business beyond the winter of 1918 is that particularly cold, one. Freezing temperatures paralyzed the United States. But america has just entered the 1st world war and nothing can be allowed to disrupt the training of the troops. And yet in the shadow of these preparations, another peril awaits a scourge. Worse than the war is about to strike a in a few short months, it will wreak havoc and destruction on the planet before disappearing again and be forgotten. It is thought that it might have started at the military camp at funds to kansas, where 30000. 00 men were preparing for their baptism of fire on the battlefield. On march forest, a cook missed morning call followed by 2 soldiers by mid day. More than 100 soldiers had to pull out of training. They all had the same symptoms, high fever, muscle aches, headaches, and a terrible cough. For edward schriner, the base physician, the diagnosis was clear, the soldiers were suffering from the flu. Private Irving Greenwald remembers the whole company went to the infirmary. The sick were examined, isolated and treated. After a few days rest, the soldiers recovered in the open air. But meanwhile, the virus prospered and multiplied it infected 10000 men every week. Senior management felt there was no reason to be concerned. The flu is rarely fatal. For the time being at the end of march 1918, the Training Camps emptied as the troops had for the major port on the United States east coast. In the face of a newly aggressive germany, american support had become crucial. But despite the speed of the outbreak, no measures were taken to limit contagion. The priority was to send 4000000 men to the front. Every day they set sail from new york, boston and philadelphia to transport such numbers. The number of ships and roots multiplied. Soon. Ships docked in liverpool, breast for dough and even mar, say during the 8 day crossing platoons, full of cases became battalions of flu victims. There were many sick among the 100000. 00 men who disembarked every month, but most soon recovered. The virus had not yet shown its true face, but continued its silent migration. I became a faithful travelling companion. Moving across france towards the front lines, the procession of troops passed through towns and villages. Ah, with every hug and hand shake, the virus discreetly entered the populations in its path. Ah ah, it was 1st spotted around the harbours then along the Railroad Tracks had in east as if waiting to join the fight. After 4 years of fighting the brothers in arms. Despite the celebrations, germany remained to be defeated. On april 9th 1918, there was a new onslaught on the flanders trenches. Germany needed to win before america fully deploy its forces. In a flash, the kaisers army smashed through enemy lines, capturing many prisoners the allies pulled back. Germany had won the advantage now it was a race against time. Huge overloaded convoys rushed to the front. On board, there were no seats or dining cars. I janet conditions were poor and space at a premium. Ah, the swift backup worked soon overwhelmed by numbers. The germans lost the upper hand. German losses were high. Large numbers of soldiers were also laid low by a sudden illness. A 3 day fever, which became known as the flanders flew. The virus had now taken hold on both sides. But the press remained silent under the watchful eye if the military sensors hello aah spain was the 1st to break the news of the illness. The country with neutral and its newspapers were free to inform the world. Most new that flew from the north had now spread across the iberian peninsula. Even king alfonso, the 13th became bedridden, and his Prime Minister and several advisors were also effected. Government meetings were adjourned until further notice. Ah ah madrids unworried residence continued to hum a tune from an operetta, popular that spring, the soldier of naples. Oh, but once the death rate in the capital reached double the normal level, the cheerful refrain took on a darker tone and new words soldier of naples. Curses be unto you. Your lethal fever is a bad omen. You cause us nothing but trouble. Bless it is any one who survives, ah imported by Seasonal Workers returning from southern france, the virus spread thanks to spains well developed rail network. The french ambassador and madrid explained his concerns. The epidemic has spread with extraordinary speed. In 3 days, it has effected 70 percent of the population. If the epidemic hits france in a similar way, it could shut down part of our national life. Exposed in spain, the illness would thereafter be called. The spanish flew at the end of may 1918 media in the warren nations finally broke their silence. But the scale of the epidemic was downplayed. Some articles in france cleaned the country was completely unaffected by the so called spanish flu. But military reports indicate otherwise under a code name, disease 11, it spread to every corner of the country was duly recorded. New cases appeared daily among the americans, almost half the submarine crews were on sick leave. Acting as giant incubators. The subs did not help. The virus had mutated becoming twice as aggressive on the british side, 10 percent of the sailors were affected. The royal navy had to call off major operations in the north sea. The viruses spread and virulence also accelerated among land based armies. One report summed up the situation. One Artillery Brigade saw a 3rd of its troops fall ill within 48 hours. One day, only 15 men were fit for service. Out of a total of 145. 00. Military leaders were careful not to spread. The news. In more time, secrecy is vital. The enemy must know nothing. The New York Times was on board. Even the soldiers were not told for fear that troop morale would suffer. Everything had to carry on as if the virus did not exist. The sick and wounded were sent to the back. Many british were sent home where no special measures were taken to care for the sick. The virus crossed the English Channel silently on stretchers. Now its advance from the southern United Kingdom began in the north. It had already arrived the american troops using british port cities as staging points in the working class suburbs. The number of cases was 20 times higher than normal in manchester. Doctor james nevin raised the alarm in one school, i observed children getting sick can some collapsing on their desks . The illness comes on very suddenly, an overwhelming fatigue is a common symptom. Mm. A prevention pioneer never advocated handwashing and social distancing. His recommendations inspired a new film dedicated to health care. It showed how an Office Worker infected his colleagues over the course of a single working day ah, but winning the war meant sacrifice. This was what sir. Arthur newsome, a Senior Member of the british medical association, thought the wars demands justified the risk of spreading infection. Ah, there was nothing more to say. Nothing would be done to stem the spread july 1918 was catastrophic for the german side. General wooden doff chief strategist of the german army declared. The flu is everywhere. It is awful to hear the case numbers and officers complaints about the weakness of our troops. Lacking combat ready men, his army was forced to retreat. Given leave sick and symptom free soldiers returned home where they mingled with civilians already weakened by the ongoing shortages and battered germany, the population was feeling the full force of the epidemic. The 1st fatal cases were reported in hamburg, berlin and mannheim. Ah. But the allies were optimistic with the bit whether the number of cases in the army had dropped sharply. It was summer, the epidemic seemed to be subsiding and victory was in sight. The daily paper le le town was delighted ah long lived spanish flu for the soldiers as well as for those behind the lines. It is an opportunity for a few days of rest. To believe these papers, it was all over. But in reality, the virus was roaming and the general population was unaware of the ongoing threat. Me only the eminent professor for non di warned contagion occurs in a very special way and spreads faster than any other disease. But his warnings fell on deaf ears with the authorities. The hectic pace of the early 20th century meant large parts of the population were now commuting to work every day. Public transportation was full. There was no avoiding social contact. Remote working was still not an option. And every payment brought with it, the risk of infection. In the inner cities, the population cluster didnt very tight spaces. The st. Public transport and markets were overcrowded. The spread of the virus was particularly compounded by the lack of shielding measures. Ah, by the summer of 1918, the flu had spread worldwide from portugal to russia. Iceland, italy, greece, even as far as china case number is exploded. The epa demick had become a pandemic. Worse the virus had mutated and its summer variant was much more dangerous. Ah, now there were hundreds of deaths each week. A 2nd wave, much more deadly than the 1st had started. Only switzerland seemed aware of the challenge that had faced awe. On july, 18th, a federal decree ordered cantons to ban gatherings and closed public venues. Offenders faced heavy fines or prison. But elsewhere, there were no preventative measures to slow the spread of the scorch. The war remained the highest priority deliveries of equipment, food and troops danced an unceasing, trans atlantic ballet a frequent destination. That summer was africa, a major supplier of manpower and Raw Materials to the colonial empires. The virus was 1st reported in algeria, morocco and sierra leone. On august 15th 1918, a merchant ship came to refuel and free town hub of the west african cold trade. There were 124. 00 flu cases on board, including one death. Ah, while the corpse was unloaded, dock workers were loading the ships hold. 10 days later, 600. 00 of them were infected. The death rate increased. Some of the locals called the disease man. Meaning what is it . Although unaware of the cause, they would see its effects all too soon. Within a month, almost a 3rd of the country was infected. In lagossi, the capital of nigeria, another ship delivered its cargo a flu carriers. The nigerians knew that europeans were importing the infection. Guided by marbles, who are religious leaders. People fled the urban white hospitals to seek care at home in their native villages. Called if alonza, the virus killed almost 500000 people. Mm. Thanks to the rail and river connections built by the colonialists to transport the continents wealth. The virus quickly crossed jungles and deserts in less than a year, it had slaughtered 2500000 people while invading the world, the flu also ravaged the u. S. In mid september, army bases sun, unprecedented direction. Camped, evans and massachusetts was particularly hard hit. Within a month, the number of infections grew 5 hundredfold a military doctor wrote they seemed to have an ordinary flu. Then they quickly developed the most vicious type of pneumonia ever seen. A few hours later, their faces turned blue until it is hard to tell the colored men from the white. Ah, Victor Vaughan had of the contagious diseases unit reported. I witnessed hundreds of soldiers die in the army camps and did not know what to do. I then decided never again to preach about the great achievements of medical science and to humbly admit our dense ignorance in this case. By late september, with the allies on the brink of victory, the flew was killing soldiers as fast as machine guns and artillery. In the us, the virus had escaped from the military camps and began to attack civilians. Boston near the ill fated camped. Evans was the 1st city struck nearby cities followed many doctors called for strict preventative measures, but the authorities saw no need for the 4th more effort, Fundraising Campaign had just started. Ah, americans were implored to reach into their wallets to fill the war coffins. Philadelphia put on a massive parade on september 28th enthusiastic, proud of 200000 soldiers and civilians, celebrated equally a memorable event, particularly for the famous ah the following week, the number of victim skyrocketed. The cities, hospitals were overwhelmed. Beds piled up in the corridors, shift work was improvised, and caregivers were exhausted. Doctor Sidney Rosenblatt wrote, i have gone through hell with these weeks. All i have done is sign death certificates. Which more than 650 deaths daily funerals could not keep up. Churches were closed. For strawn carts travelled the streets, collecting the dead. Many corpses, landed, and hastily dug trenches. Ah, nothing was learned from the philadelphia disaster. The same week, new york posted the traditional columbus day parade, attended by the president himself. A great promoter of the event, Woodrow Wilson, was careful not to comment on the pandemic. The 2nd wave piqued to new york 15 days later, reaching a sad record of more than 5000 deaths in one week. No one was yet aware that the industrialized world had been plunged into the gravest Health Crisis in its history. It had soon claimed more victims than the war in autumn 1918. The virus redoubled in intensity from boston to bombay. Rome to rio, its deadly variant, preached British India relatively spared by the 1st wave, became a charnel house in a land of 250000000 people. The virus was spoiled for choice. Everywhere trains arrived, packed with the dead and dying infant job the worst affected region. Almost a 1000000 people were dead or dr. Reported the hospitals are so choked. We cannot remove the dead fast enough to make room for the dying. In delhi, every 2nd hospital patient died. The dead are traditionally cremated on riverside pars. But the wood reserves were exhausted, and cremation became impossible. Corpses were dumped in the rivers instead. In india, the death toll has been estimated to be around 20000000. But the total might well have been higher. For 7 months, the pandemic had been spreading to every corner of the globe. Edith goring, a young survivor recalled. Some was so delirious, they had to be tied to their beds. The dying were covered in black and purple patches. Pregnant women were dying. In montreal, a doctor reported sometimes i saw 50 cases per day, often for 5 or 6 members of the same family could not breathe. When i returned the next day, 2 or 3 of them had already died. A young orphan explained. First, my father died my mother the next day before we could bury them, my younger sister joined them. She was born just before my mother died. In paris. Doctor marguerite top k noted me, we felt helpless. The severity of the symptoms and the rapid progression of the illness were like plague and colorado. By late october, french hospitals could no longer cope and launched an appeal. Medicine was helpless. Science baffled me. Seasonal flu normally strikes children and the elderly. Spanish vary and struck Young Healthy adults like lightning within 2 days. And nothing could save them ah, the doctors only had aspirin, which could fight the 40 degree fever, but too much kills more than it saves overdose. His could ease the suffering of the dying. They treated patients any way they could. In france, eminent medical professors tried bloodletting. Others recommended turpentine and inhaled gargle or injected the ah, i Health Measures of all kinds were suddenly a part of everyday life. Ah, ah roman cognac with the most popular prescriptions . Ah, when the police distributed seized contraband alcohol in the military camps, even if the bourbon didnt cure, could raise throughout. The scotch was preferred in canada. Well, brandy was popular in south africa. Neutering and became wildly popular. Quinine with d cocktail ah, in france, my name is also recommended, but without whisky, ah, like alpine tea with its claimed benefits. A cure for colds also promised miracles. Ah, in the United States, a powerful accident time lack was given. Freely. Salesman took full advantage of the market for hope. Peddling the wackiest remedies ah, a rash of treatment and pills. Syrup, sir, ointments each more useless than the other flourished while the virus continued its deadly work. The onset of the 2nd wave forced the authorities to act new york closed shops and peak times San Francisco. The courthouses trials were conducted outdoors ah, from seattle to karachi, theatres and cinemas were shut sole prohibited access to all public venues. Manchester close at school. While in many parts of africa, village leaders restricted gatherings even at funerals. After many months of negligence, there was a widespread increase in awareness across the continents. Everything possible was done to restrict social interaction. Though in france, restaurant terraces still remained open until 7 pm. Spain closed its borders while a stranger blocked its harbours. In japan dropped explanatory leaflets by air. Busy many universities remained closed, or courses were taught outdoors even delivery men were kept from their customer. Ah. Although there was as yet no mention quarantine, tom had become the norm. Ah, as the days passed, prevention based messages became orders. You must use a handkerchief when you sneeze. One leaflet, hammered out by the u. S. Surgeon general red cops and sneezes, spread diseases as dangerous as isnt gas. Shells. Ah messages posted along public highways and, and public transport set. The tone and i masks now formed the core of the passive defense system. Pioneer in this, japan required their use in towns including for younger generations. In the United States, some states made them compulsory as in california, where the government called them the patriotic duty of every citizen the in San Francisco as a new york offenders were subject to fines. And those who resisted were arrested and tried. Protesters organized in the name of personal freedom, running the risk of being shot the in paris, so the press wondered me will for reason women be willing to disfigure themselves to protect their lungs . I fear they will not take this mass seriously. This protective gag did not muscle humour or inventiveness. Ah, france experimented only briefly with mass. Because by mid october, the newspapers still claimed the general state of health in paris was satisfactory. Surreal optimism at the very moment that the