When the weather gets cold, people begin to prepare themselves for flu season. They get flu shots and stock the medicine cabinet with the items that they may need if the illness visits their home. Every year, or every couple of years, there is talk of specific strains of the flu like Swine Flu or Bird Flu that are worse than the usual, garden variety influenza that can leave you miserable for a few days. These strains are more dangerous and can even be deadly. This is not a new thing, though. Throughout time disease pandemics have caused quite astonishing numbers of deaths in relatively short periods of time.
One or more of your ancestors may have been affected by a disease pandemic. If so, the story of the pandemic is a part of your family’s history. For example, in 1918, over twenty five percent of Americans became ill with the “Spanish Flu”. Many people died, and the pandemic caused quite a stir. Everyday life was greatly disrupted in most places. Travel was restricted. Public gatherings were cancelled, people wore masks when they went out in public, and schools were closed. Communities implemented strict rules on business hours of operation and quarantines went into effect.
With so many people affected by the pandemic, it is possible that one or more of your ancestors were among those who died. Also, if they were ill and recovered, it is possible that others in their household may have died. Many widows, widowers, and orphans were created as a result of the Spanish Influenza pandemic of 1918. When you are doing your genealogy research, look for any deaths that occurred around that time and see what cause of death is listed on the death certificate. Your family may have its own story of surviving the Spanish Flu pandemic.
Photo by jfellas on morguefile.com.