September 1918

[AdamG]

The picture we have of the 1918 flu pandemic is vastly more detailed today than it was 20 years ago, let alone 50 or 100 years ago. But it’s nowhere near complete. Pathologist Jeffery Taubenberger of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases – the man who in 2005, with his colleague Ann Reid, published the genetic sequence of the virus responsible for the pandemic – said at a recent conference there were still many unanswered outstanding questions.

Researchers all over the world are working hard to answer them. But what they have already uncovered might surprise you.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/2018...e-20th-century

[davidbfpo]

The international historical group, the Western Front Association (based in the UK) has published on their website a series of essays by the late John Terraine, whose work had a large part in revising the history of WW1.

An introduction is provided by a WW1 historian, Corelli Barnett; which is excellent - especially that in WW2 the British Army did not have a leading role.
Link:http://www.westernfrontassociation.c...relli-barnett/

[AdamG]

“Influenza pandemics are like earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis: they occur, and some are much worse than others,” says Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. “The idea that we would not have another 1918-like event is foolish.”

But when that will happen, he continues, is impossible to predict: “For all we know, it could be starting as we speak.” It’s also impossible to predict exactly how things will play out when a Spanish flu-like strain does reemerge – but we can make some educated guesses.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/2018...roke-out-today