The Spanish Flu (1918 influenza pandemic)

The Spanish Flu of 1918 was a deadly influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 virus, spreading rapidly worldwide near the end of World War I. It infected about one-third of the global population and resulted in an estimated 50 million deaths. Unlike typical flu strains, it disproportionately affected healthy young adults and pregnant women. The outbreak overwhelmed hospitals and overwhelmed health systems, emphasizing the importance of public health measures like quarantine and hygiene. Despite its name, it did not originate in Spain but was so called because Spain was among the few countries freely reporting on the outbreak during wartime censorship.