How 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic Killed Over 50 Million Globally (Throwback Photo)

The story of how Spanish Flu Pandemic killed about 50 million people globally has been made known.

As reported by Theatlantic, over one hundred years ago, a world recovering from a global war that had killed some 20 million people suddenly had to contend with something even more deadly: a flu outbreak.

The pandemic, which became known as Spanish flu, is thought to have begun in cramped and crowded army training camps on the Western Front.

Between 1918 and 1919, the outbreak spread rapidly across the world, and killed 50 million and 100million people within 15 months.

The speed of the pandemic was shocking; the numbers of dead bodies overwhelmed hospitals and cemeteries.

Quarantine centers, emergency hospitals, public use of gauze masks, and awareness campaigns were all undertaken swiftly to halt the spread.

But as World War I was coming to a close, millions of soldiers were still traveling across the globe, aiding the spread of the disease.

While its exact origins are still debated, it’s understood that the “Spanish Flu” did not come from Spain.