Lecture on the 1918 Flu Pandemic and World War I

Introduction

• Reading from Private Joshua Lee, 34th Infantry Division, 1919, describing the flu's deadly impact.
• Opening Theme: Connection of the flu with World War I troop movements.

First Wave of the 1918 Flu

• Initial Spread:
  • Began among American troops in Brest, April 1918.
  • Spread to French and British troops.
• Symptoms:
  • High fever, headaches, weakness.
  • Known as three-day fever, knock-me-down fever, or La Grippe.
• Impact:
  • Rarely killed but incapacitated soldiers.
  • Overcrowded trenches were ideal for spreading.
  • Fresh troops rotated regularly, providing new hosts.

Spread in Military Camps

• British Army Impact:
  • By early May, no hope of containment.
  • 36,000 hospital admissions in one month.
• Military Response:
  • Initially ignored until it affected combat capabilities.
  • Quarantine measures and medical tents overwhelmed.

Impact on the War

• Spring Offensive & the German Army:
  • Ludendorff’s offensive faced setbacks due to flu.
  • Troops weakened by flu and food rationing.
  • Delays and eventual failure of the offensive.
• Allied Recovery:
  • Allies caught flu earlier and were recovering as Germans debilitated.
  • German failure attributed to flu impact among other factors.

Censorship and Information Control

• Allied Side:
  • U.S. and Britain clamp down on press, denying flu impact.
  • Rockefeller Institute: covert operations to gather data.
• Spanish Flu Moniker:
  • Flu reported in neutral Spain, infections including the king.
  • International attention led to "Spanish Flu" nickname.

Mutation and the Second Wave

• Mutation Causes:
  • Potential mutations or recombination with animal flu strains.
  • Possible influence of mustard gas on genetic mutation.
• Second Wave Characteristics:
  • Highly contagious and lethal.
  • Affected primarily those in the prime of life.
  • Symptoms could lead to rapid death.

Conclusion

• Historical Impact:
  • Flu’s role in the war, both as a detriment to military efforts and in its transition to a more deadly form.
• Closing Remarks:
  • The pandemic’s spread was facilitated by global troop movements.
  • End Theme: The "Naples Soldier" flu strain was on the move globally.