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An Immigrant’s Tale, Many people fled war-ravaged Europe during WWI and several came to America. In addition to adjusting to a new culture and learning a new language, recent immigrants also had to cope with a deadly flu pandemic. Even for those who had settled in the United States before the Great War, the flu pandemic made a difficult existence almost unbearable.

War Stories, The first cases of illness from the 1918 flu pandemic in the United States were reported from Fort Riley, Kansas on March 11 when an Army private became ill; complaining of fever, sore throat, and headache. Military personnel were greatly impacted by the virus and many young recruits were dead from the flu before they ever saw combat.

An Immigrant’s Tale, Many people fled war-ravaged Europe during WWI and several came to America. In addition to adjusting to a new culture and learning a new language, recent immigrants also had to cope with a deadly flu pandemic. Even for those who had settled in the United States before the Great War, the flu pandemic made a difficult existence almost unbearable.

Finding A Cure, One of the most important challenges, for health communicators today, is helping the public to understand that a flu shot will not be readily available when the next pandemic strikes. Once the virus is identified, it will take several months to produce a vaccine. In 1918, in desperation, people tried a variety of methods to cure the sick —some practical and effective, others questionable and even amusing.

CDC Media Relations - MMWR News Synopsis: April 11, 2013

Investigation Announcement: Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Linked to Ground Beef