1918 Influenza Pandemic Analysis

New diseases and pandemics shock government and individuals, and are many times difficult to treat. This remained true in the past, whether it be the Black Death or the Influenza pandemic of 1918, and true today, as examined by governments and society trying to adjust to the new threats of Ebola and Zika. The 1918 influenza pandemic and the current response to Zika can be compared by examining how similar they are in terms of showing how government quarantines can be counter productive and how government actions taken during the flu hurt the Ebola response in the modern world.

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Many government took efforts to stop the spreading of the flu in 1918. Some tried to promote public health and boost morale by framing the flu as a “metaphor
For example, Kaci Hickox was a nurse who volunteered in Africa in order to help people afflicted with ebola, and came back to the united states. Hickox was put under quarantine for three days in New Jersey. Hickos was placed in-home quarantine for 21 days “”despite the fact that Hickox did not have any symptoms.” Furthermore, her partner, Wilbur, was asked to stay off campus for fear that he would ebola on his college, even though Hickok was asymptomatic and “someone with Ebola cannot infect another person until they develop symptoms.” Hickox believed these government actions were unjust, made a stigma against those who volunteered in ebola afflicted countries, and was ultimately “counterproductive to our Ebola response as well as harmful to the individuals affected.” The quarantine creates a stigma which would cause long term
When health workers tried to enter the Kolo Bengou village, there were youths “armed with slingshots and machetes” who states they “don’t want any visitors … don’t want contact with anyone.” The fear surrounding Ebola as well as the aversion to outsiders causes massive barriers in treating Ebola. For example, the Wabengu village chief stated that his people “are absolutely afraid, and that’s why we are avoiding contact with everybody”. Many of the African villages fear health workers because of a lack of education and previous distrust of government. The elderly generation remember the ineffectiveness of the British government and how the British were biased in their treatments which ultimately did not work, and the colonial exploitation of Africa led to economic issues which led to unstable governments and subsequent fear of outside forces.

Government quarantines during both the flu and the Ebola epidemic show how quareintes can be counter productive, and why politically expedient actions must not be taken if they are not rooted in logic. Furthermore, the British actions taken during the flu epidemic, as well as government negligence and racism, still affect part of Africa