The Spanish flu mainly killed young people between the ages of 15 and 40. In addition to these deaths, the effects of the flu had serious long-term physical and mental health effects on many of those who survived. The pandemic also had a negative impact on the economy. Urban populations were particularly susceptible to this strain of flu, in part because of environmental pollution. Recently, researchers have found that in more polluted cities in 1918, many more people died than in less polluted urban areas, suggesting a direct link between air pollution and the flu virus. It is logical to assume that the death rate in rural areas was even lower.
Economic consequences of the Spanish flu pandemic
The economic consequences of 1918 were caused by panic surrounding the spread of the flu. Major American cities, including New York and Philadelphia, effectively went into lockdown, with kuwait number data the population confined to bed. As in Italy, bars, restaurants and shops were closed, sporting events were cancelled and private gatherings – including funerals – were banned. The economic consequences of the Spanish flu included labour shortages and wage increases, as well as wider use of social security systems. According to The Conversation, economic historians cannot agree on a key figure for lost GDP, as the effects of the flu are difficult to separate from those of World War I.
they were dire. Studies have shown that by adulthood, people born during the pandemic were less educated, had poorer health, and had lower socioeconomic status than those born immediately before and after the flu pandemic.
Three lessons from past epidemics
The lessons learned in 1918 are stark. One of the main reasons the 1918 pandemic killed so many people was that leaders were negligent in their early response to the disease. Their actions ultimately helped the flu spread more quickly. The repatriation of troops was probably the main culprit. Today, we know that infectious disease policies work. Quarantining and isolating cities, countries, and people are better solutions. For example, scientists found that American cities that made efforts to reduce contact between people early in the 1918 outbreak had significantly lower peak mortality rates than cities that adopted quarantine policies later.