Second-wave of Spanish Flu killed more people than the first, here's what we can learn!

In 1918, a pandemic ravaged the world like wildfire and claimed the lives of over 50 million people around the world. This was called the Spanish Flu.Contemporarily, COVID-19 is spreading at an astonishing speed.

What lessons could we learn from the Flu?

Considered the deadliest pandemic in the history of human civilisation, the Flu infected 500 million people, and lasted for 15 months, stretching upto two years in terms of its effects.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Yet the first wave of the virus didn't appear to be particularly deadly. There were regular symptoms like high fever and malaise. And the mortality rates were similar to seasonal flu.

It was only when a mutated strain of the virus re-emerged, that it made a kill within 24 hours of showing the first signs of infection.

Lessons to learn

The lessons to prevent the second peak of infections that can be equally catastrophic include abiding by social distancing strictly, while also not throwing unproven drugs at the virus.

The first wave of COVID-19 has already claimed over 400,000 lives.

Most parts of the world haven’t even crossed the first wave’s peak.

So what can you do about the second wave?

Rules such as ensuring precautions and hand-washing, and wearing masks cannot be relaxed.

Staying at one is still one’s best bet to avoid catching the virus.

Recklessness exercised in terms of the restrictions and easing them will intensify chances of a second-wave.