We’ve heard a lot of people draw comparisons between the 1918 flu, sometimes called the Spanish Flu, and the current coronavirus pandemic. This podcast episode of Throughline by NPR explains the 1918 flu and goes into the similarities and differences between the two. The differences they highlight can provide hope during this scary time.
A transcript is available to read in addition to the podcast stream.
“In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic it’s tempting to draw comparisons to the most severe pandemic in recent history – the 1918 flu. But as much as we can learn from the comparison, it’s important to also understand just how much these two pandemics differ. This week, what we can learn from what happened then and, just as importantly, where the comparison should end.”
Source: 1918 Flu