Spanish Flu Pandemic

The Spanish Flu pandemic occurred between 1918 and 1919, affecting roughly one-third of the world's population. Caused by the H1N1 influenza virus, it spread rapidly, particularly in soldiers during World War I. Unlike typical flu, it struck young, healthy individuals hard, resulting in an unusually high mortality rate. Estimates suggest it led to about 50 million deaths globally. Poor medical knowledge and lack of vaccines at the time exacerbated the crisis. The pandemic highlighted the need for better public health responses and international collaboration to manage infectious diseases in the future.