The Spanish Flu Did Not Originate In Spain
Why wasn’t it called the American flu?
Interesting Facts in Easy English
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- originate: begin
- neutral: not involved in a conflict
- censorship: the practice of restricting information
- influenza: a viral infection that can be passed on (flu)
- in one’s prime: in the most productive years of one’s life (approximately ages 20-40)
Comprehension Questions
- When did the Spanish flu take place?
- Why was it called the “Spanish” flu?
- What often happened to people who contracted the disease?
Discussion Questions: Do you think a pandemic of this size will happen again? If yes, how will it be different? If no, why not?
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The Spanish Flu Did Not Originate In Spain
The Spanish flu of 1918 is the deadliest pandemic in history. It spread around the world from 1918-1919 at the end of World War I. Approximately 50 million died, and 20-40% of the world’s population got sick. Despite the name, the flu did not originate in Spain. News about the flu was published in Spain because it was a neutral country without wartime censorship. Other countries in the war were not allowed to spread news that could hurt the war effort. While the origin of the flu is not known for sure, the first case may have occurred in Kansas. Influenza outbreaks typically kill those with weak immune systems; however, the Spanish flu did the opposite. Many of those who died of the Spanish flu were healthy adults in their prime. Victims typically died within a few hours or days of contracting the disease. The Spanish flu vanished suddenly after two years.
- The Spanish flu took place from 1918 to 1919.
- It was called the “Spanish” flu because Spain reported on the flu first. Spain was neutral during World War I and the media there was not censored.
- People who contracted the disease often died within hours or days.
