1918 Spanish flu

The 1918 Spanish flu was a worldwide influenza pandemic caused by an H1N1 virus, infecting about one-third of the global population. It emerged during the final year of World War I, spreading rapidly and causing severe illness, particularly among young adults and healthy individuals. Symptoms included high fever, body aches, and respiratory distress, often leading to pneumonia. Many deaths occurred within a short period. The pandemic highlighted the importance of public health measures like quarantine and wearing masks. It ultimately resulted in millions of deaths worldwide and prompted advances in epidemiology and virology.