Health Mar 10 What happened when the 1918 flu pandemic met WWI In 1918, working at an overcrowded Army base hospital, let alone finding yourself in one, was a nightmare. By Dr. Howard Markel
Health Sep 20 COVID has killed about as many Americans as estimated toll from 1918-19 flu COVID-19 has now killed about as many Americans as the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic did — approximately 675,000. And like the worldwide scourge of a century ago, the coronavirus may never entirely disappear. By Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press
Arts Aug 21 Watch 5:44 A cultural exploration of face masks during disease outbreaks Face masks have become part of our daily lives in a way few would have anticipated only months ago. Yet the coronavirus pandemic is not the first American crisis in which face coverings have played a central role. The Smithsonian… By Jeffrey Brown, Rhana Natour, Tommy Walters
Politics Aug 14 Why 1920 can offer clues about the 2020 elections In 1920, Americans were reeling from a flu pandemic, recovering from an economic crisis and grappling with violence against Black people, creating political divisions and debates that are similar to the ones we're having today. Yale University professor Beverly Gage… By Lisa Desjardins, Rachel Wellford, Vika Aronson, Erica R. Hendry, Emily Carpeaux
Apr 20 What history revealed about cities that socially distanced during a pandemic By Dr. Howard Markel In 2005, in response to the threat of H5N1, a flurry of pandemic preparedness planning began in Washington and across the nation that would set the groundwork for what’s happening now. Continue reading