Spanish Flu Pandemic, 1918–19

An H1N1 influenza virus infected an estimated one-third of the world’s population and killed at least 50 million people. Wartime troop movements and overcrowded hospitals amplified its spread, while public health measures—quarantines, face masks—laid groundwork for future responses.
Question to Ponder: In what ways did misinformation and wartime censorship hamper the global response, and how can we apply those lessons to today’s health crises?