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Case 7: The 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Influenza And The Great War 
Challenge Question: How did the experience of the 1918 influenza pandemic differ between 
civilian and military populations? 
The case study discusses why the influenza pandemic was referred to as the "Spanish flu". It also 
attempts to establish a relationship between the measures taken during that pandemic and those 
taken during the Covid-19 pandemic, which still persists. 
It also links the spread of the disease in a context of world war and thinks how in that context the 
warring nations hid the deaths caused by the disease to prevent the morale of the troops to 
decline, although the beginning of the pandemic reached the last months of its development, 
since towards the end of 1918 the armistice that would end the war conflict would be signed. 
Source 1 shows a "Monthly bulletin, what the Health Department has done to stop the epidemic". 
It tells us about the conflict between civilians and the authorities regarding the measures to be 
taken to stop the spread of the disease. For example, one measure was the closing of schools. But 
the war context makes it difficult for the authorities to act. For example, it is seen in the lack of 
wood and steel for coffins or the lack of doctors. This had negative effects for the population, as 
their daily life was interrupted by the closure of places of worship such as churches or by the 
impossibility of giving holy burial to their deceased relatives. A situation that, at least partially, 
would be repeated almost 100 years later in the context of the global coronavirus pandemic. 
In source 2 "Charles Hardy for the Philadelphia radio program, The Influenza Pandemic of 1918: 
Interview of Survivors" shows the city's inability to treat the dying and sick. This is a dehumanizing 
shock to people to see how the dead from the disease are treated (they are piled in garages, 
covered with blankets for lack of coffins, etc.). 
In source 3 "Streetcar conductor in Seattle, does not allow passengers on board without mask, 
1918" 
Analyzes the measures taken in public places in the face of the epidemic that prevent those who 
do not comply with them from boarding or entering certain establishments (in this case it shows a 
public transport). Such measures also affect culture, theaters or stores that must be closed also 
change the economy (not being able to travel to work) to people. 
In source 4 "The Age, Lactogen Ad" you see a combination of a medical prescription with a 
commercial advertisement. It shows a new form of medicinal advertising, which will be seen much 
more in the post-war years, and which we could carry even into our days, with the media 
campaigns of certain sectors of the 
In source 5 "Article in The Age, Red Cross Society" we see an analysis of the proliferation of the 
responsibilities of the Red Cross (it has to take care of providing aid both to those returning from 
the war and also to those affected by the influenza pandemic). A globalization of care was 
generated (medical supplies and personnel move around the world). Interconnections between 
different parts of the world are shown (as in the case of the provenance of medical personnel 
indicated by the source). 
Almost a century after the events discussed in the article, we have lived through a very similar 
experience, where the symbolic element of technology has been added as a means of feeling that 
even at a distance we will sustain each other.