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)
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.
