The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History in Science and Inquiry

Aug 25, 2020 Phelia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: health-issue

As human, sometimes we have no other choices than accept and adapt. We learned from every tough reality, decision and its implication. No matter how hard, it is our responsibility to face every challenge, diligently uncover all cloud that hinder us from the right solution, bring solution into realization, and prepare next generation for handling such situation in batter way. We try to bring hope for people now and in the future, through history that we created.

The Great Influenza, was published As human, sometimes we have no other choices than accept and adapt. We learned from every tough reality, decision and its implication. No matter how hard, it is our responsibility to face every challenge, diligently uncover all cloud that hinder us from the right solution, bring solution into realization, and prepare next generation for handling such situation in batter way. We try to bring hope for people now and in the future, through history that we created.

The Great Influenza, was published in 2005, no long after SARS pandemic 2002-2003. It back to its early popularity during COVID 19. John M. Barry depict the sorrow behind 1918 influenza pandemic. America Government decision to support World War I forced America people to be mobilized in over crowded military barrack, industrial area agriculture area. Moreover army were frequently transferred from one camp to other. This situation promoted influenza outbreak in 1918. American society, no-matter rich or poor, was forced to taste the bitterness of losing people they love within 1 month of diseases outbreak. The terror was intensified by U.S. Public Health Service that tried to cover up the reality from citizen. 鈥淭here is no cause for alarm if precautions are observed鈥� this statement was repeated by local authorities to suppress the public panic, anger, and disappointment on government lack of response toward influenza spreading.

However, the story about influenza is not only about the pain of patients and their family, it is also about scientists, doctors, activists who brought hope for people. Welch, Vaughan, Gorgas, Flexner, Avery, and Lewis are some example of scientist who work day and night to find the cure for victims. Their fear for the safety of their family and society gave them strength for facing every up and down in medical research for serum, antibiotics and vaccine development (even with their lack of understanding about virus and its differences from bacteria). Their work put foundation for medical research of virus and public health. Although the sore of pandemic cannot be avoided, the effort of mitigate the pain and the number of mortality it caused give us hope for stronger society.

Reading the narration of Influenza 1918 in this book give me basic to rationalize what happen during COVID 19 (2019-2020). I start to measure the advantages that our modern society have, and most importantly how I can help to limit the spreading of diseases. If our predecessor able to fearlessly face their difficult situation, I am sure that our modern society can pass through this storm together. ...more

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Jun 22, 2020 Pam Shelton-Anderson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: history-20th-century-plus

This seemed to be a pertinent book to read while in the midst of the spring/summer of Covid19. The impact of the 1918 influenza was also a function of the state of the world, science and society, so I appreciated the background of these topics, especially medicine which was only just embracing science and research. The men and women who pursued the virus were worthy of mention though I felt the final chapters of detail on them a bit drawn-out. This was published before Covid19 came on to the sce ...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Chinook rated it it was amazing

I LOVED the Great Influenza. Read it while doing a round the world trip (Seoul - Italy - Accra - Lome - Toronto - Vancouver - back to Seoul) because it amused me to see the looks on people's faces when I went through customs. Swine flu was big at the time. ...more

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