The Spanish flu pandemic

The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919 was a severe global outbreak caused by an H1N1 influenza A virus. It spread rapidly, infecting about one-third of the world's population and resulting in an estimated 50 million deaths. Unlike typical flu seasons, it disproportionately affected young, healthy adults and had a high mortality rate among those with strong immune systems. The pandemic coincided with World War I, complicating efforts to control it. Public health measures like social distancing, quarantine, and wearing masks were implemented, but limited medical knowledge and resources made containment difficult. The pandemic highlighted the importance of global health preparedness.