The Great Influenza

**Willowdared** · 05-16-07, 03:37 PM

We don't really have a book section, so I'm putting this here.

I just finished reading The Great Influenza by John M. Barry. For those of you who may not have heard of this book, it's about the "Spanish Influenza" pandemic of 1918. Still considered the deadliest pandemic in human history.

I found it riveting, frightening, and eye-opening. I think anyone who is a first responder should read this, as it not only informs on how the flu works, and how epidemics and pandemic function, but is also a cautionary tale of how controlling information can create even greater tragedy.

You will never look at the flu the same way, ever again.

**conalabu** · 05-16-07, 03:47 PM

Thanks, P.

**Cidp24** · 05-16-07, 03:56 PM

Sounds like something I'd like to read. Thanks

BTW after I read "The Stand" by Stephen King, everytime someone coughed or sneezed I would kind of cut my eyes at them.

**Willowdared** · 05-16-07, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Cidp24

Sounds like something I'd like to read. Thanks

BTW after I read "The Stand" by Stephen King, everytime someone coughed or sneezed I would kind of cut my eyes at them.

Ha! That was a great read, and this book reminded me of The Stand, when he tracks the infection as it makes it's way around the world.

The author also suggests that Wilson perhaps came down with the flu during the peace talks ending WWI, and that lead to the stroke that debilitated him.

**Lizzy** · 05-16-07, 06:46 PM

Sounds interesting P. If you go to any of the 'older' cemeteries there are usually whole sections from 1918. You can see whole families that died within days of one another. Sad but interesting.

**Willowdared** · 05-16-07, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by Lizzy

Sounds interesting P. If you go to any of the 'older' cemeteries there are usually whole sections from 1918. You can see whole families that died within days of one another. Sad but interesting.

Those were the lucky ones Lizzy.

Many cities were hit so bad, they simply dug mass graves. And that was when they could finally collect the bodies. People were often forced to leave corpses in closets, sometimes even still in bed.

**Lizzy** · 05-16-07, 09:23 PM

I think I want to read that book. Thanks for the reading suggestion P.

**BEB** · 05-16-07, 10:15 PM

Curiously, after not hearing anything about the bird flu for awhile, I heard a government sponsored PSA the other night. It was late, Art Bell was on, so when I heard someone saying to stock up on food and hide I figured he had played an old Y2K ad by mistake.

Until the end when they gave their URL. Think it was a ready.gov PSA. Government anyway, with the message to stock up on food and water. Quite strange.