Influenva Epidemic of 1918

The influenza pandemic of 1918 lasted from January 1918 to December 1920. This was an unusually deadly pandemic, infecting 500 million people around the globe, killing 50 to 100 million of them. The event killed 3% of the worlds population, making it one of the most deadly events in human history.  Most influenza outbreaks disproportionately kill juvenile, elderly, or already weakened patients; in contrast the 1918 pandemic predominantly killed previously healthy young adults. A large factor in the worldwide occurrence of this flu was increased travel. Modern transportation systems made it easier for soldiers, sailors, and civilian travelers to spread the disease.