Influenza Virus In Ww1

World War I was a devasting time for many around world. Economy was deteriorating, new warfare technology like tanks, chemicals, and planes were created with the sole purpose of extermination, opposing countries were not only attacking military but also civilians, and there were also diseases going around. World War I experienced an intense and many may even say an unforgettable level of destruction. By the time the war ended millions of people including both soldiers and civilians were dead. Although, the war counts for many of the deaths of the people, more soldiers and civilians died because of the flu pandemic that projected over the war because the war provided perfect conditions for the spread of the virus.
The great influenza pandemic

The first wave happened in spring of 1918 and was mostly mild. Those who contracted the virus experienced typical flu symptoms such as chills, fever and fatigue, generally recovered after a couple of days, and the deaths reported were low. However, the second wave was highly contagious. The sick died within hours or days of developing symptoms, their skin turning blue and their lungs filling with fluid that caused them to suffocate Gina Kolata states “More American soldiers died of the flu than were killed in battle. Overcrowded hospitals, training camps, and tranches created the ideal environment for the virus to infect higher numbers of people. In fact, the conditions of war helped the virus perfect itself through several waves of infection each deadlier than the last.” By September of 1918 over half a million Americans were dead, 40% were of the navy and 36% were soldiers from the army. According to Humphries, “the first wave was primarily the army who suffered then as the disease spread in the second both army and civilians suffered.” Disbanding in the fall of 1918 implemented the perfect circumstances for intimate person-to-person spread, as soldiers returned home by sea and rail to countries around the world.
The virus traveled with soldiers from camp to camp and across the globe, and at the height of the war, influenza sickened most soldiers. A Germen General complained that the flu was thwarting his battle plans. While the virus progressed, his men became weaker contributing to the failure of his battle plan. The high fatalities rates interfered with the draft and training schedules and made thousands of soldiers non-effective. The war was redirected from soldiers urgently needing resources from combat support to transporting and caring for the sick and the