The Pandemic of Influenza in 1918-1919 US Department of Health,
Education and Welfare Public Health Service National Office of
Vital Statistics The recurrence of pandemic influenza with the
killing power of the 1918-19 pandemic has always been considered
a possibility, but the probability of anything so lethal is
lessened by the fact that several weapons are now available with
which to combat a severe epidemic. The recent emergence of a
variant of type A influenza virus which is antigenically
different from any strains previously isolated, and its rapid
spread throughout Southeast Asia, has reawakened interest in
what occurred in 1918-19. The following description of the
1918-19 epidemic of influenza in the United States has been
prepared in response to that request. It is intended merely to
refresh our memories of its highlights and characteristics. It
is not an exhaustive review. DescriptionThe pandemic of
influenza in 1918-19 which swept over nearly every continent and
island of the whole globe has been de