The Spanish flu pandemonium: and lessons on scientific knowledge of pandemic prevention

• Autor(a) principal: Coelho, Ana Claúdia
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Oliveira, Joana, Rodrigues, Isilda
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.23882/rmd.22088
• topic: Gripe Espanhola; Lições; Conhecimento científico; Saúde Pública; Spanish flu; Lessons; Scientific knowledge; Public Health

The Spanish Flu, also called Pneumonic, was a pandemic event caused by the H1N1 influenza subtype that emerged in 1918, in the last year of I World War. The virus affected the lungs and airways, causing haemorrhagic pneumonia with secondary bacterial infection. The origin is unknown, but Spanish newspapers widely reported the effects of the virus in the country. As Spain assumed a neutral position in the war, press censorship was not practised. The pandemic spread to various parts of the world in three waves, the second of which, in the fall of 1918, was responsible for the highest rates of morbidity and mortality. Overall, it resulted in about 500 million infected worldwide and more than 50 million deaths. It was distinguished by high mortality in young adults. Portugal was a very affected country. The Spanish Flu entered the country through the Alentejo region, during the months of June and July 1918.We intend, with this article, to reflect on how from the 1918-1919 pandemic developed knowledge in the field of public health emerged, and subsequent scientific advances facilitated the development of preventive measures, including vaccines and antivirals. Many lessons from the Spanish Flu pandemic have been learned and have contributed to the history of science in preventing other potential pandemics and epidemics that occurred or were prevented in the 20th and early 21st century, including the Covid-19 pandemic.