Comparisons are made between the 1918 Spanish flu and the current COVID-19 pandemic. The United States population was about 103 million in 1918. The current US population is about 3.2 times larger, now at 330 million.
Twenty eight percent, or 29 million people, were infected during the 1918 pandemic. The death count was 675,000. If similar effects were applied to the current US population, infections would total 92.4 million and there would be over 2.1 million deaths.
A frightening comparison could also be applied to our Cook County resident population of about 5400. Infections would total over 1500, with the death count at 35. We need to do much more than just hope things don’t get that bad.
No vaccines or therapeutics were available for the Spanish flu. Viral infection may have run its course through herd immunity after the potential pool of victims was generally depleted. Fortunately we now have several vaccines on the horizon, as well as access to ventilators, PPE and prophylactic drugs to battle the current virus. It gets tiresome to hear the advice about mask wearing and social distancing, but slowing the community spread of COVID-19 is our best way to combat the current rampant infection rate increase.
Please do your part; protect your friends, family and yourself.
Bob LaMettry, Grand Marais
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