THE SPANISH FLU

COVID-19: LESSON FROM HISTORY

The Spanish Flu (1918):

-- Lasted 2 years (Jan. 1918 to Dec. 1920 in two waves (three in Africa);
-- Infected +-500 million worldwide;
-- Killed +-50 million worldwide;
--The first wave killed just about 3 million;
-- Restrictions were relaxed and the second wave came;
-- The second wave did the real damage. Wiped out close to 50 million (est);

-- Nigeria escaped the first wave but was caught in the second wave as the virus arrived by sea in Sept. 1918;

-- Nigeria's population then was +-18 million and between 50-80% of the population were infected;
+-500,000 Nigerians were killed;
--Sadly, many people doubted the virus during the first wave and didn't take it as serious.

We are seeing the same in Nigeria in 2020 concerning Covid-19;
-- Lockdown and quarantine efforts were prematurely relaxed in 1918 perhaps due to the war and people's agitation.
We are seeing agitations in 2020 in Nigeria concerning Covid-19;

--The colonial gov't was probably more responsible than the current gov'ts (Fed. States, Local) in Nigeria, yet so many Nigerians died in 1918;

-- In pandemics such as the one in 1918 and the current Covid-19, body count becomes uncontrollable when the rate of infection escalates and medical resources become overwhelmed;

-- We are beginning to see such escalation now as Covid-19 penetrates deeper into communities and community acquired infections increase;

-- The threat of hunger is real, but to relax restrictions when the rate of infection is ascending instead of receding portends greater danger;

-- Nigerians are advised to learn from history, self regulate and comply with Preventive Instructions to avoid unimaginable Covid-19 casualties;

-- If 500,000 died when the population was 18 million, what can happen with a population of 200 million is better left to be imagined especially with gov'ts that are prone to embezzlement rather than deploy all resources to fight the pandemic

-- Covid-19 is real.
Stay home. Stay safe.