THE DEADLIEST PANDEMIC IN HISTORY

While visiting my southwest Virginia family recently, I made my annual journey to the Haw Orchard Cemetery on Whitetop and was reminded that my grandfathers first wife died in 1919 at the age of 21. Cause of death? The flu.

I guess that's what drew me to this book. I wanted to understand how and why so many young adults died, including the wife of Glenn V. Reedy, my grandfather. (she was not my father Bayse bio-logical mother)

First, how bout some stats. 

Most estimates put the death toll at 20 million, killing more people than any outbreak of disease in human history. Some estimates are 100 million. Nearly half were in the prime of life, in their 20's and 30's. Let this sink in.

As many as 8 to 10% of ALL young adults living were killed by this virus. 

Influenza killed more people in a year (1918) then the Black Death of the Middle Ages killed in a century. It killed in 24 weeks more people than AIDS killed in 24 years. 

OK, enough stats. Let's look at why.

• WWI put recorded numbers of young adults together in army tents, etc.
• The pre-discovery and under-development of effective medicines.
• This book is about the role of Johns Hopkins Medical School and University in the development of "the cure".

Oh, by the way, the author points to Haskell County, Kansas (just west of Dodge City) as the place where this new influenza virus was first detected. Dr. Loring Miner, a local family physician, reported it to authorities but was largely ignored. A young soldier named Dean Nilson contended the virus traveled to Ft. Riley and the rest is history. 

Overall, I thought the book was very interesting. I give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

P.S.- the only thing left in the little town were Dr. Miner practiced medicine is a cemetery.