Introduction
We examine the deadliest pandemic in the last century, through colonial census reports, newspaper archives and letters written by Indian soldiers fighting in the Great War in 1914-1918.
Map
A map showing the movement of the flu across the world, during its second wave in August, 1918. These map onto trading routes and shipments of goods during the end of the First World War. As can be seen, ports across the globes serve as entry-points for the virus. | Source: Patterson, K., & Pyle, G. (1991). THE GEOGRAPHY AND MORTALITY OF THE 1918 INFLUENZA PANDEMIC.
Bulletin of the History of Medicine,65(1), 4-21. Retrieved May 4, 2020, from
www.jstor.org/stable/44447656
(Click on image to enlarge it)Spread in India Map
Diffusion map showcasing spread of Influenza. | Source: Patterson, K., & Pyle, G. (1991). THE GEOGRAPHY AND MORTALITY OF THE 1918 INFLUENZA PANDEMIC.
Bulletin of the History of Medicine,65(1), 4-21. Retrieved May 4, 2020, from
www.jstor.org/stable/44447656
(Click on image to enlarge it)Graph
A graph plotting the GDP in relation to inflation, for epidemic and pandemic years in India (from 1901-2018). The trend shows that at times of low GDP, the inflation is correspondingly low. Except in the outlier year of 1918, where the inflation remained high, despite the fall in GDP. This may be explained by the famine in 1918, which coincided with the spread of the flu. The low GDP may be partially accounted for by the expenditure in the First World War. | Courtesy: Professor Chinmay Tumbe
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Vaccine
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An excerpt from a survey by British officials across their colonies, detailing the possible nature of the bacteria causing the flu, and vaccines for the same. | Source: British Empire Survey of Health Problems, 1924 pp. 219.
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People Dying
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A particularly horrific detailing of choked hospitals and burning ghats during the flu, in the New York Times | Source: The New York Times pg. 3.
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Anxious Parents
Concerned Parent requesting lockdown of schools | Source: Turner, J A The Times of India (1861- current); Oct 1918; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Times of India pg. 8.
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Possible "Bacteria"
Doctors investigating the possible bacteria. | Source: The Times of India pg. 8.
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