In which year did the Spanish flu break out?
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1918
It fell in the last months of the First World War.
💡 Did you know? The second wave in autumn was the deadliest.
All questions with answers
Which type of virus caused the Spanish flu?
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An influenza virus (H1N1)
It belonged to subtype A/H1N1.
💡 Did you know? Related H1N1 viruses still circulate today.
Why is the disease called „Spanish“ flu?
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Neutral Spain reported openly about it
The warring countries hushed up the disease.
💡 Did you know? Its origin was probably not in Spain at all.
Roughly how many people did the Spanish flu kill?
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25 to 50 million
Some estimates even reach 100 million.
💡 Did you know? That was more dead than in the whole world war.
Which age group did the Spanish flu hit unusually hard?
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Young adults
Otherwise flu usually kills the old and infants.
💡 Did you know? Their strong immune system probably overreacted.
Which global event aided the spread?
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The First World War
Troop movements carried the virus across continents.
💡 Did you know? Cramped camps and trenches were ideal breeding grounds.
Roughly what share of the world population did it infect?
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About one third
That was about 500 million people.
💡 Did you know? Earth had about 1.8 billion people then.
Which protective measure did many wear on their faces in 1918?
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Face masks
Mask mandates applied in many places.
💡 Did you know? Schools and cinemas were also closed.
Was there a vaccine against the virus in 1918?
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No
Viruses as pathogens were barely understood then.
💡 Did you know? Flu vaccines only exist since the 1940s.
How many main waves of the Spanish flu are usually distinguished?
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Three
The second wave in autumn 1918 was the worst.
💡 Did you know? The virus had apparently mutated to be more aggressive.
From what material did researchers later reconstruct the pathogen?
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From preserved tissue
Among others from bodies preserved in permafrost.
💡 Did you know? This let the virus be fully decoded in 2005.
What do we call a disease that spreads across the whole world?
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Pandemic
If it stays local, it is called an epidemic.
💡 Did you know? „Pan-demos“ is Greek for „the whole people“.
Which famous painter died of the Spanish flu in 1918?
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Egon Schiele
The Austrian expressionist was only 28.
💡 Did you know? His wife had died just days before.
Which organ most often failed in the severely ill?
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The lungs
A deadly bacterial pneumonia often followed.
💡 Did you know? Antibiotics against it did not yet exist.
How did the pandemic affect life expectancy in the USA?
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It dropped sharply
In 1918 it fell by about twelve years.
💡 Did you know? A drop no other disease has caused.
Which simple measures did authorities use against the spread?
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Isolation and bans on gatherings
Cities that acted early fared better.
💡 Did you know? This insight still shapes epidemic control today.
Is the Spanish flu a model for studies on flu threats?
Show answer
Yes
It is the benchmark for every new flu pandemic.
💡 Did you know? Its study helps assess future waves.
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