100 Year History Challenge, The Resilient Medical Health Team: #explore1918 Influenza Outbreak

In 1918, it was the time when World War I took several lives around the globe. Yes, war, a major catastrophic event that is caused by territorial or major disagreements between countries, where people fight people to death. But they did not realize that the true enemy they are going to face is not the soldiers from other countries, but a disease that killed more people than the war itself. The real enemy during 1918 is the Influenza outbreak.

It starts with a slight headache, and a few moments after it is followed by a high grade fever and intense chills that won't even stop. Difficulty breathing starts to occur, and hemoptysis is evident. People try to migrate in the fear of having this disease, but as they move, they carry with them the disease which also infected others from different places. This disease killed ten times more people than the war they were experiencing, and it rapidly spread from america to the entire world.

When the outbreak affected millions of lives, hospitals were not prepared on how to deal with the disease, because their present knowledge and techniques in dealing with a certain disease is becoming less effective, leading to a large number of death.

Scientists, Doctors, and other members of the Health Researchers, studied thoroughly to combat the fatal effects of the disease.

Health Team

Image Source: Scholarly Article

During the breakout, Europe and America were not prepared with the drastic damage that resulted from an influenza virus, called the Spanish Flu. So they have to open up emergency tents just to cater the ones being infected with the flu.

Image source: https://history.libraries.wsu.edu/fall2014/2014/08/29/influenza-outbreak-of-1918/

In those times they encountered several manifestations, and early signs of the disease. Where medical experts record their findings for the future.

Actually, I have chosen this incident on 1918, not because of the detrimental damage caused by the disease, but because of the initiative and hard work of the Medical Health Team which pierced through the advancement of medicine and the quality of lives of all the people in the world until the present day.

I can relate to this, because I am a Nurse by profession, and I believe that it is a calling, and the passion to care is always an attribute to the likes of me. Nurses, Doctors, or even Volunteers during 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak did not just gave and risked their lives just to show the world how vile the effects of such virus, but they worked together to contain, and make every people in the world immune to such disease.

Knowing the struggles they had, resources weren't enough, but they managed to go beyond surviving. In which, I can totally relate, because first we are not a well off family and nursing school is expensive, and second I am not emotionally prepared when I entered nursing, but there is this resilience embedded in us humans, that we surpass the limits of the environment placed upon us. Where we, as human beings, create an impact not just on our own but to every people we encounter.

Imagine if those people who are in the medical team during the outbreak gave up, and did not do their task. The disease would have sent us to the ground and merely decay.

Well, I chose to be in relation to the Medical Health Community because I wanted us people to realize that we are just like them, because I know that if we are in their position, we will also do the same. As human as we are, compassion for others is the most basic yet fulfilling attribute we have. And just look, it's already a century from that diabolical event, but we are still here, capable of surviving no matter what kind of disease pops out, I guarantee you, that the Medical Health Community will always have your back.

Citations

ERIKA BURGESS from Washington State University from her thesis paper, that gave me enlightenment with the said topic.
https://history.libraries.wsu.edu/fall2014/2014/08/29/influenza-outbreak-of-1918https://history.libraries.wsu.edu/fall2014/2014/08/29/influenza-outbreak-of-1918/
Scholarly Article
Still Picture Unit, National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD, 165-WW-269B-26.

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@sndbox & @phillyhistory for initiating such contest. More power to you!

This contest made us realize the importance of history, and appreciate our ancestors on how they managed to survive the most vile moments of their lives. This is indeed a privilege, and this all because of your initiative.

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