1918 pandemic caused similar responses

1918 pandemic caused similar responses

First time dealing with a global pandemic.

More than 100 years ago -- the influenza pandemic of 1918 and '19 -- otherwise known as the spanish flu -- infected one in every four people on the planet.

That pandemic killed at least 50 million people.

Kezi 9 news reporter jillian smukler is live in the studio to explain many similarities beween the pandemics... and why historians say -- we need to learn from our mistakes.

Matt -- renee -- i spoke with a history professor at oregon state university to learn just how similar the two pandemics have been so far.

From the response on a local and federal level -- to push back on mask mandates -- and politics getting involved -- these two pandemics have a lot in common.

But the*main take away was that -- this century-old lesson proves we should*not rush back into normalcy.

In fact.... the thing that keeps historians and public health scholars up at night --- is what*they call the second wave.

The first wave was in the spring of 19-18 -- and that was bad enough.

But when*fall came -- and more people went*inside -- the spread was exponential.

Un-believably... the bulk of people died within just*six weeks in the fall of 19-18.

"it was devastating and thats what worries us all because once society gets more relaxed and complacent with these measures which is exactly what we're seeing these days, and why we're seeing new peaks, just imagine fall what a new wave will look like thats whats worrysome."

He says the reality is --- you*can't become complacent --- and society needs to act*fast whenever there's a new spike.

He tells me.... one of the lessons from 19-18 is that cities opened way too fast and they had*far more deaths and disease after they*re- opened -- because there was too much spread in the community.

He says the deadly second wave hit the west coast*later than the rest of the country.

He tells me -- we know*exactly how the virus spreads through data from the influenza pandemic.

We need to keep infections and hospitalizations*down -- so that we have a chance of having the medical infrastructure*work.

Reporting live in the studio jillian smukler kezi 9 news.

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