Spanish Flu

• Goverment response to the spanish flu in 1918-1919 was slow and ineffective
• The spanish flu was spread by soldiers returning from the first world war. 50 million people worldwide killed
• In Britain, the death rate was so high that wood for coffins ran out and mass graves had to be used
• Occupied by the war, the goverment response was slow; the goverment did not issue advice until late 1918 when it was too late
• Important decisions such as closing schools were left to local authorites.
• A silent film, Dr wise on influenza explained precautions such as making face masks but not enough copies were made