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Senior News June, 2004 Vol. 25. No. 6
Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.
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Humboldt Senior Resource Center Back issues Table of Contents
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Think About It What caused the biggest flu epidemic in history? by Bill Sturgeon In 1914 World War I began in Europe. In 1915 there was an epidemic of tetanus in the trenches. In 1916 food was rationed in Germany. In 1917 Russia had a revolution. In 1918 meat and butter were rationed in London, and food shortages led to the establishment of national food kitchens. Drinking water was contaminated. Europe was starving. People suffered malnutrition and sickened. In November armistice was signed and peace restored. Soldiers shipped home from Europe to America, not by air but by slow ocean-going steam ships. Many came on board already sick. For two weeks they endured severe crowding in tight spaces and shared the same air, food and toilets. Shipboard water for personal hygiene was nearly nonexistent and drinking water was stale. These ships served as giant Petri dishes, incubators for propagating, nurturing and spreading deadly virus. Upon arrival at home port, the men, incubating influenza in their bodies, swarmed out of the ships and headed for home - in all directions and all at the same time. Hundreds of communities became infected simultaneously by these returning local heroes. These events triggered a worldwide epidemic of influenza. By 1920 half the world's population became infected. When it was over, nearly 50 million people had died. This epidemic killed more than any other in history. It killed even more than did World War II. The virus, now believed to have jumped from birds to humans, contributed to ending the war. Soldiers became too sick to fight. Late in 1918 they were dying faster from flu than from guns. How do we respond? There are two approaches to coping with a flu epidemic. The first is to prevent it by avoiding the causes - keep people well fed and living in clean, hygienic conditions. Provide pure water for drinking and don't gang up in huge crowds. Be aware that pushing supermarket shopping carts is like shaking hands with a hundred people. People who are sick can sneeze on the handles further contaminating them. Use these carts, but wash your hands afterwards, and don't rub your eyes. The second way to cope is to inject the whole population with a vaccine that always seems to have questionable value in keeping us well. Sometimes it appears too late to do any good or makes some of us sick or even dead. It may contain the preservative Thimerosal. This is ethyl mercury, similar to Merthiolate, a potent neurotoxin suspected by many of causing both Alzheimer's disease and autism. The Centers for Disease Control announced the results of its Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Study: "This initial study showed that the 2003-2004 influenza vaccine was not effective or had very low effectiveness against 'influenza-like illness.'" The question remains for each of us: Do you arm yourself with a flu vaccine injection or nasal spray, or do you abstain? After much study, and given the choice, I would rather risk influenza than flirt with Alzheimer's disease. Bill Sturgeon is a medical science writer who lives in Petrolia, California. His e-mail is sturgeon@asis.com. |
Senior News