AVIAN FLU? It May Take YOU! -- Flashback to 1918 Influenza Epidemic

Those who doubt the unbelievable horror that an avian flu pandemic
would cause ought to leaf through the pages of the old newspapers
published in October and November 1918.

Then they -- especially the skeptics, shrugging it off in TV
interviews -- won't so lightly dismiss the possibility that a
repetition (maybe a whole lot worse) may be right down the road.

Maybe then they’ll realize just how incredibly terrible influenza had
been in 1918 – and how bad bird flu can be if it becomes contagious
in humans and strikes the United States with a vengeance.

The old, yellowed newspapers are filled with obituaries of countless
thousands of Americans who died from either pneumonia or influenza
in October and November 1918..

Along with the newspapers' long list of obituaries were front-page
stories detailing just how gruesome and horrific the illness was, as
well as the frustration in all attempts to eradicate it.

One of those who died from the influenza in 1918 was my Uncle John,
only a year-and-a-half old but still my uncle (my mother’s brother).

The tot was living with his widowed mother, Anna Varga, and his
7-year-old sister, Anna (my mother), in Mahanoy City (Pa.) when the
scourge whipped through the community and the entire anthracite
coal region of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“Little Johnny caught what we at first thought was a cold,” I recall
my late mother saying. “Then he had a terribly high fever and Mom
should’ve called the doctor to come to the house.

“But she ( an immigrant who cleaned houses for a living) didn’t have
the 50 cents to spare to pay for his visit. That’s how much a doctor’s
house visits cost in those days.

“So Mom did something she had seen back in Czechoslovakia, from
where she emigrated alone at age 12. She put my brother, naked, in a
tub of ice, to try and bring his temperature down.

“But it did no good – it undoubtedly made it worse – and soon my
little brother was no longer breathing.”

There are numerous heart-rending stories like that – and they reached
into many homes, not only in Pennsylvania, but also throughout the
nation and the world.

The Spanish influenza outbreak of 1918 was the greatest, most lethal
pandemic the world has ever known, worse even than the Black Plague
that had devastated Europe many years before.

In its 10-month duration between 22 million and 40 million people
perished worldwide from influenza. Estimates place the death toll in
the United States at over 675,000, with more than 22 million becoming
ill.

Leading physicians of the time thought the illness was a bacterium
but, in fact, it was something not yet discovered – a virus.
American were very familiar with the flu; it sent a person to bed,
made them miserable for three or four days with fever, muscle aches
and congestion, then left them shaky for about a week.

It made millions sick, yet killed only the oldest, youngest and most
feeble.

The 1918 influenza was a horror that turned victims bluish-black, then
drowned them with their own body fluids.

The death toll was highest among people ages 15 to 40, those at the
peak of health. The victims would be fine one minute and incapacitated
a few minutes later, fever-wracked and delirious. Body temperatures
rose to 104 to 106 degrees and skin turned blue, purple or deep brown
from a lack of oxygen.

Massive pneumonia attacked the lungs, filling them with fluid; blood
gushed from the nose. Death was quick, savage and terrifying.

The Great Influenza Pandemic touched Pennsylvania very severely.
“On Sept. 27, 1918, Pennsylvania optimistically reported that
‘comparatively few cases’ had been reported among the civilian
population,” said Mike Leavitt, U.S. secretary of health and human
services. “Then influenza took hold
.
“On Oct. 4, the state reported that the disease was epidemic in
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Nearly 15,000 cases were counted in the
first 18 days of October and the dreadful toll continued to climb.”

Philadelphia was one of the hardest-hit cities. As the disease spread,
essential services collapsed. Nearly 500 policemen failed to report
for duty. Firemen, garbage collectors and city administrators fell
ill.

“The city’s only morgue overflowed,” Leavitt continued. “It was built
to handle 36 bodies but contained more than 500. Bodies accumulated in
the morgue’s hallways and lay there rotting.

“Five supplementary morgues were eventually opened. Convicts were
recruited to dig graves. There were never enough coffins, and people
would steal them from undertakers when they could.”

Public gatherings were banned to restrict the spread of the disease.
Streetcars were shut down. Schools, churches and public meeting places
were closed, and so were theaters and places of amusement. It was
illegal for three or more people to congregate on a corner.
The human cost was unbearable.

Selma Epp remembered her family’s experience with the flu.

“We made up our own remedies, like castor oil and laxatives …
everyone in our house grew weaker and weaker,” she had said.
“Then my brother Daniel died. My aunt saw the horse-drawn
wagon coming down the street.

“The strongest person in our family carried Daniel’s body to the
sidewalk. Everyone was too weak to protest.

“There were no coffins in the wagon, just bodies piled on top of each
other. Daniel was 2; he was just a little boy. They put his body on
the wagon and took him away.”

“When it comes to pandemics, there is no rational basis to believe
that the early years of the 21st century will be different than the
past,” Leavitt said. “If a pandemic strikes, it WILL come to
Pennsylvania.”

Ed Conrad
http://www.edconrad.com

Man as Old as Coal
and
Proof of Life After Death

=============================

MAN AS OLD AS COAL, WITH EVIDENCE TO PROVE IT

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==========
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Agencia EFE, EFE
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Australian Associated Press, AAP
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WORLD'S LARGEST NEWSPAPERS
Rank Country Circulation
1. Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan) 14,532,694
2. Asahi Shimbun (Japan) 12,601,375
3. Sichuan Ribao (China) 8,000,000
4. Mainichi Shimbun (Japan) 5,845,857
5. Bild (Germany) 5,674,400
6. Chunichi Shimbun (Japan) 4,323,144
7. Sun (England) 3,718,354
8. Renmin Ribao (China) 3,000,000
9. Sankei Shimbun (Japan) 2,890,835
10. Nihon Keizai Shimbun Japan 2,705,877
11. Gongren Ribao (China) 2,500,000
12. Daily Mail (England) 2,387,867
13. Daily Mirror (England) 2,339,001
14. Chosun Ilbo (South Korea) 2,225,000
15. Dong-A Ilbo (South Korea) 2,150,000
16. Hokkaido Shimbun (Japan) 1,962,666
17. Eleftherotypia (Greece) 1,858,316
18. Xin Min Wan Bao (China) 1,750,000
19. Wall Street Journal (U.S.) 1,740,450
20. Yangcheng Wanbao China 1,730,000
21. Kerala Kaumudi (India) 1,720,000
22. Wen Hui Bao Daily (China 1,700,000
23. USA Today (United States) 1,653,428
24. Joong-Ang Ilbo (S. Korea) 1,550,000
25. Economic Daily (China) 1,500,000
26. Rodong Sinmun (N. Korea) 1,500,000
27. Kyung-Hyang Daily News 1,478,537
28. Sports Nippon (Japan) 1,452,699
29. Shizuoka Shimbun (Japan)) 1,442,310
30. Sankei Sports (Japan) 1,367,734
31. Deutche Allgemeine Germ 1,313,400
32. United Daily News (Taiwan ) 1,300,000
33. China Times (Taiwan) 1,270,000
34. O Estado de Sao Paulo Brazil) 1,230,160
35. Jang Daily (Pakistan) 1,200,000
36. Jang Lahore (Pakistan) 1,200,000
37. Akhbar El Yom/Al Akhbar (Egypt) 1,159,339
38. Hankook Ilbo (South Korea) 1,156,000
39. Hochi Shimbun (Japan) 1,119,031
40. Daily Express (England) 1,118,981
41. Los Angeles Times (U.S.) 1,067,540
42. New York Times (US) 1,066,540
43. Tokyo Shimbun (Japan 1,062,080
44. Daily Telegraph (England) 1,047,861
45. Nishinippon Shimbun Japan 1,041,104
46. Jiefang Ribao (China) 1,000,000
47. Nanfang Ribao (China) 1,000,000
48. Nongmin Ribao (China) 1,000,000
49. Zhongguo Qingnian Ribao (China) 1,000,000
50. Nikkan Sports (Japan) 984,058
51. Al Akhbar (Egypt) 980,000
52. Guangming Ribao (China) 950,000
53. Al Ahram (Egypt) 900,000
54. Al Goumhouriya (Egypt) 900,000
55. Seoul Shinmun (S. Korea) 900,000
56. Xin Hua Ribao (China) 900,000
57. Verdens Gang (Norway) 870,267
58. Corriere della Sera (Italy) 868,266
59. Kyoto Shimbun (Japan) 839,499
60. Chugoku Shimbun (Japan) 820,000
61 Kobe Shimbun Japan 820,000
62. Times of India (India) 813,000
63. Kobe Shimbun (Japan) 810,353
64. Beijing Wanbao (China) 800,000
65. Hubei Ribao (China) 800,000
66. Jiefangjun Ribao (China) 800,000
67. Trybuna Slaska (Poland) 800,000
68. La Gazzetta dello Sport Italy 798,243
69. Ouest-France (France) 790,133
70. Holos Ukrainy (Ukraine) 768,000
71. The Times (England) 766,999
72. ABC (Spain) 765,668
73. Washington Post (U.SSS) 759,122
74. La Repubblica (Italy) 754,930
75. De Telegraf (Netherlands) 751,400
76. Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland) 750,000
77. Zero Hora (Brazil) 727,188
78. Diario dos Campos (Brazil) 725,000
79. New York Daily News (U.S.) 723,143
80. Sabah (Turkey) 722,950
81. Jornal da Tarde (Brazil) 709,793
82. Beijing Ribao (China) 700,000
83. Chongqing Ribao (China) 700,000
84. Clarin (Argentina) 700,000
85. Thai Rath (Thailand 700,000
86. Zhejiang Ribao (China) 700,000
87. Diario Insular (Portugal) 684,143
88. Granma Internacional (Cuba) 675,000
89. Chicago Tribune (U.S) 673,508
90. Daily Record (Scotland) 671,267
91. China Daily News (Taiwan) 670,000
92. The Daily Star (England) 650,406
93. Guangxi Ribao (China) 650,000
94. Malayala Manorama (India) 630,068
95. La Nacion (Argentina) 630,000
96. Hurriyet (Turkey) 615,579
97. Herald Sun (Australia) 600,000
98. Hurriyet (Pakistan) 600,000
99. Liaoning Ribao (China) 600,000
100. Oriental Daily News (Hong Kong) 600,000

100 LARGEST NEWSPAPERS IN U.S.
Rank Circulation
1. USA Today (Arlington, Va.) 2,154,539
2. Wall Street Journal (NY N.Y.) 2,091,062
3. Times (New York, N.Y.) 1,118,565
4. Times (Los Angeles) 914,584
5. Post (Washington, DC) 732,872
6. Daily News (New York, N.Y.) 729,124
7. Tribune (Chicago) 680,879
8. Post (New York, N.Y.) 652,426
9. Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.) 580,069
10. Chronicle (Houston) 553,018
11. Chronicle (San Francisco) 512,640
12. Morning News (Dallas) 510,133
13. Sun-Times (Chicago) 481,798
14 Globe (Boston) 450,538
15. Arizona Republic (Phoenix) 432,284
16. Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.) 408,672
17. Star Tribune (Minneapolis) 380,354
18. Inquirer (Philadelphia) 376,493
19. Journal-Constitution (Atlanta) 371,853
20. Plain Dealer (Cleveland) 365,288
21. Free Press (Detroit) 352,714
22. Oregonian (Portland) 342,789
23. Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.) 334,742
24. Union-Tribune (San Diego) 328,531
25. Herald (Miami) 315,850
26. Register Orange County CA 302,864
27. Sun (Baltimore) 301,186
28. Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) 289,905
29. Post (Denver) 288,937
30. Rocky Mtn. News Denver 288,889
31. Post-Dispatch (St. Louis) 285,869
32. Mercury News San Jose CA 271,997
33. Star (Kansas City, Mo.) 267,273
34. Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) 257,222
35. Times-Picayune N Orleans 253,610
36. Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio) 252,564
37. Star (Indianapolis) 249,891
38. Journal Sentinel Milwaukee 244,288
39. Post-Gazette Pittsburgh Pa 242,546
40. Herald (Boston) 241,457
41. Sun-Sentinel (Ft L'dale, Fla ) 233,634
42. Times (Seattle) 231,505
43. News (Detroit) 227,392
44. Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) 226,849
45. Tribune (Tampa, Fla.) 224,220
46. Express-News S Antonio Tx 222,536
47. Investor's Business Daily LA 215,788
48. Star-Telegram Ft Worth, TX) 215,452
49. Courier-Journal L'ville Ky 213,176
50. News (Buffalo, N.Y.) 207,989
51. Daily Oklahoman Okla City 207,538
52. Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.) 201,141
53. World-Herald Omaha Neb. 192,075
54. Pioneer Press(St Pau, Minn 190,392
55. Times-Dispatch Richmond 188,540
56. Courant (Hartford, Conn.) 185,570
57. Press-Enterprise R'side CA 183,974
58. Democrat-Gazette (L'l Rock 183,343
59. American-Statesman Austin 183,312
60. Contra Costa Times (Calif.) 182,541
61. Enquirer (Cincinnati) 182,176
62. Record (Bergen County, N.J.) 179,270
63. Daily News (Los Angeles) 178,360
64. Democrat (Rochester, N.Y.) 173,900
65. Tennessean (Nashville) 172,149
66. Post (W. Palm Beach, Fla.) 168,147
67. Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla) 167,851
68. Journal (Providence, R.I.) 167,609
69. Asbury Park Press (N.J.) 167,284
70. News & Observer (Raleigh NC) 163,769
71. Review-Journal (Las Vegas) 160,391
72. Bee (Fresno, Calif.) 158,651
73. Commercial Appeal (Memphis) 157,820
74. Register (Des Moines, Iowa) 150,851
75. Post-Intelligencer (Seattle) 150,851
76. Daily Herald (Chicago) 150,364
77. News (Birmingham, Ala.) 148,938
78. Daily News (Philadelphia) 143,631
79. Journal News Westchester NY) 142,873
80. Advertiser (Honolulu) 142,025
81. Blade (Toledo, Ohio) 139,520
82. World (Tulsa, Okla.) 139,383
83. Press (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 138,620
84. Tribune (Salt Lake City) 134,985
85. Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio) 128,511
86. News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) 128,511
87. Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) 126,642
88. La Opinion (Los Angeles, Calif.) 124,692
89. Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) 120,701
90. Tribune-Review (Greensburg Pa) 119,646
91. News Journal (Wilmington, Del.) 116,398
92. News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tenn.) 114,593
93. State (Columbia, S.C.) 114,442
94. Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) 111,594
95. Journal (Albuquerque) 109,693
96. Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.) 106,941
97. Herald-Tribune (Sarasota, Fla.) 105,636
98. News-Journal (Daytona Fla.) 104,654
99. Telegram (Worcester MA) 102,592
100. Times (Washington, DC) 102,255

There is a book that really is a great read on the subject entitled,
"The Great Influenza", by John M. Barry. Secondly, there was a one-hour
PBS program on Wednesday the 10th about the pandemic also.

Just thought you'd like to know...