New Delhi, the nation’s capital is currently one of the worst coronavirus pandemic affected states, accounting for 3314 cases (10% of all) independently amidst 30k plus cases nationwide. But, a sneak peek into history tells us that this isn’t the first time Delhi is facing such deadly circumstances.
Nearly a hundred years ago in 1918, the world was struck with an erroneously called deadly influenza, ‘SPANISH FLU’. The terminology used in India was ‘Bombay Fever or Bombay flu’ as it first originated in the then called Bombay (now Mumbai). It affected nearly 5% of the nation’s population, killing 12-17 million people, triggered cases belonged to the young age group of 20-40 along with women suffering highly disproportionately.
Even Mahatma Gandhi wasn’t spared from the fatality of the epidemic during the second wave of its transmission. Delhi was going through its worst phase back then as death toll never seemed to approach declination for a long time. The infection wasn’t on a leash and kept turning lethal with every passing day.
A hospital in Delhi treated 13,190 H1N1 influenza affected patients, out of which 7,044 died. The severity of the epidemic caused a very drastic strain on the municipal health department and the local hospitals and dispensaries in Delhi. This depicted the pathetic situation of health management as they weren’t efficient enough to either carry out the treatments right or aid in containing further spread.
The government, in the present times, is learning from the mistakes done in the year 1918 to help curb the spread of the current coronavirus pandemic. Delhi The 1918 flu had long-lasting effects until the year 1920. It’s for us to now not allow the further spread by staying indoors and following government orders strictly and do everything that takes to avoid extensions of its effects.
Isha Smriti
City-Patna, Bihar
Isha is an aesthete when it comes to word wizardry and literature. She also has a keen interest in reading both fictional and non-fictional story writings.
