How many people were killed in the Spanish flu?

How many people were killed in the Spanish flu?

Spanish Flu. Contents. The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the deadliest in history, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims, including some 675,000 Americans.

How many Americans die from the flu each year?

During a typical year in the United States, 30,000 to 50,000 persons die as a result of influenza viral infection. Frequently cited numbers are 20,000 deaths each year, and 37,000 annual deaths.

Is Spanish flu eradicated?

Spanish Flu. The Spanish flu was thought to have been eradicated shortly after World War I and is thought to be responsible for the deaths of 80 million people. When scientists refer to the “100-year superbug”, the Spanish flu was the most recent one.

How did the Spanish flu cause death?

In comparison to a more typical case of the flu, which kills 0.1% of those infected, the Spanish flu killed between 2-20% of sufferers. The primary cause of death was from a secondary infection of the lungs, bacterial pneumonia. The secondary cause of death was from the virus itself, which caused massive hemorrhages and edema in the lungs.

How many Canadians died in Spanish flu?

The Spanish influenza epidemic, uniquely lethal in attacking young, healthy bodies, killed at least 20 million people worldwide, including an estimated 50,000 Canadians. The flu was spread through bodily fluids and moved quickly through the population.

What was the origin of the influenza of 1918?

The first apparently originated during World War I in Camp Funston, Kansas, U.S., in early March 1918. American troops that arrived in western Europe in April are thought to have brought the virus with them, and by July it had spread to Poland. The first wave of influenza was comparatively mild.

Where was the flu epidemic in 1918?

The 1918 flu was first observed in Europe, the United States and parts of Asia before swiftly spreading around the world. At the time, there were no effective drugs or vaccines to treat this killer flu strain.