Claiming millions of lives, the Spanish flu filled the newspapers in 1918 to 1919. It was a frightening time when people were desperately searching for cures and trying to avoid the flu altogether.
Spanish Flu Spreads Over All Of Europe
Influenza — “Spanish flu,” as it is called — is spreading throughout Europe.
In Europe alone there have been more than 600 deaths from the disease in less than two months. One week in July the deaths in London reached 287. Quinine queues are common sights.
The Fourth and Sixth German armies were out of the fighting for weeks with the disease and great “flu camps” have been established in Belgium and France, where the Germans were sent to receive treatment and to prevent the disease from spreading through the Hun armies.
Many deaths occurred in these two German armies and other German units. Few cases have been reported so far among the allied armies in France, but the civilian population of France is suffering greatly, as are the people of Spain and Portugal.
In Britain the disease is not confined to London. The country districts and other cities suffer greatly. In Leeds, Manchester, Herts, Egham, Sheffield and Birmingham certain schools and factories have been closed.
Perhaps the greatest toll, if reports are to be believed is being taken by the epidemic in Austria, also victim of cholera and diseases arising from malnutrition. The number of cases in Austria is reported to be reckoned in thousands.
“Spanish flu” in its symptoms is much like what the Americans call grippe. But it is more severe and often fatal.
In Russia both “Spanish flu” and cholera have claimed hundreds of victims and are both spreading.
Source: Albuquerque Morning Journal. Newspaper. August 12, 1918.
