Coronavirus spreads. But don't panic! (topical thread)

[SYZ]

The Spanish flu pandemic emerged at the end of the First World War, killing more
than 50 million people worldwide.

Despite a swift quarantine response in October 1918, cases of Spanish flu began to
appear in Australia in early 1919. About 40% of the population fell ill and around 15,000
died as the virus spread through Australia.

The virus spread rapidly around the world as soldiers returned from active service at
the end of the war. Because of its remoteness from Europe, Australia had months to
make necessary preparations.  

Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) was established during the First World War
to alleviate Australia’s dependence on imported vaccines. In 1918 it developed its first,
experimental vaccine in anticipation of the so-called "pneumonic influenza" reaching
mainland Australia.  The first case appeared in Melbourne, on 10 January 1919.

The city of Sydney implemented strict measures to limit the spread of the disease.
This included closing schools and places of entertainment and mandating the use of masks.
(What goes around comes around?)


Influenza quarantine camp setup at Wallangarra, Queensland, 1919.

In Australia, while the death toll of 15,000 people was still high, it was less than a quarter
of the country’s 62,000 death toll from the First World War. Australia's population in 1919
was only 5,193,100 —around the same as NYC.

Australia’s death rate of 2.7 per 1000 of population was one of the lowest recorded of any
country during the pandemic.  (COVID deaths Australia = 46 per million;  USA=2,100)