Spanish influenza

Abstract

In 1918, humanity fell victim to a pandemic of
influenza, that caused more than forty million
deaths. We approach the specific characteristics of
this influenza pandemic, the virus responsible and
the recent genetic work concerning the gene that
codes some of the viral proteins involved. The
demographic, social and political consequences of
this event, particulary in Portugal, where it became
known as the “pneumónica”, are discussed. A vision
of the world, the war and the country in 1918, taking
into consideration the fact that this disease killed
mainly young adults, is portrayed, bearing in mind
that this tragedy has been largely forgotten.