Comments on: From The Archives -- Memorial Day For Flu Victims http://www.chrisweigant.com/2013/05/27/from-the-archives-memorial-day-for-flu-victims/ Reality-based political commentary Sat, 02 May 2026 07:43:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: TheStig http://www.chrisweigant.com/2013/05/27/from-the-archives-memorial-day-for-flu-victims/#comment-37915 TheStig Fri, 31 May 2013 13:41:45 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=7428#comment-37915 Airline travel has opened up opportunities for short incubation microbes to disperse globally in a matter of hours. Airline travel has opened up opportunities for short incubation microbes to disperse globally in a matter of hours.

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2013/05/27/from-the-archives-memorial-day-for-flu-victims/#comment-37840 Chris Weigant Thu, 30 May 2013 07:36:21 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=7428#comment-37840 TheStig - The frightening thing about the flu pandemic was that it could have been much, much worse. The flu strain was so deadly it could have eviscerated humankind planet-wide. The only thing which stopped it from doing so (even though it was incredibly devastating as it was) was the fact that it worked too quickly. The time between infection and death was so short, it didn't allow the virus to spread even further -- when there's a longer incubation (and infectious) period, a virus can reach many more people. A quirk in the flu's own genetics saved millions upon millions of people. Even as widespread as it was, we got lucky. We dodged a major bullet. -CW TheStig -

The frightening thing about the flu pandemic was that it could have been much, much worse. The flu strain was so deadly it could have eviscerated humankind planet-wide. The only thing which stopped it from doing so (even though it was incredibly devastating as it was) was the fact that it worked too quickly.

The time between infection and death was so short, it didn't allow the virus to spread even further -- when there's a longer incubation (and infectious) period, a virus can reach many more people. A quirk in the flu's own genetics saved millions upon millions of people.

Even as widespread as it was, we got lucky. We dodged a major bullet.

-CW

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2013/05/27/from-the-archives-memorial-day-for-flu-victims/#comment-37839 Chris Weigant Thu, 30 May 2013 07:30:52 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=7428#comment-37839 To all: I have to admit, I was personally ignorant of much of this story until I read up on the flu epidemic and visited Cobh and the Lusitania gravesites. I had no idea the ship sank so close to Ireland, but Cobh still remembers the search-and-resuce operations launched at the time. -CW To all:

I have to admit, I was personally ignorant of much of this story until I read up on the flu epidemic and visited Cobh and the Lusitania gravesites. I had no idea the ship sank so close to Ireland, but Cobh still remembers the search-and-resuce operations launched at the time.

-CW

]]> By: TheStig http://www.chrisweigant.com/2013/05/27/from-the-archives-memorial-day-for-flu-victims/#comment-37772 TheStig Tue, 28 May 2013 14:20:54 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=7428#comment-37772 Something like 675,000 Americans died duing the epidemic. My grandmother told me of seeing coffins stacked on the sidewalks of NYC. Everybody knew people who were fine in the morning and dead next day. I don't think there is any other comparable mortality spike in US history, yet the event was almost never mentioned until recently. Despite the efforts of PBS, it's still not well known. The shock caused collective amensia. Something like 675,000 Americans died duing the epidemic. My grandmother told me of seeing coffins stacked on the sidewalks of NYC. Everybody knew people who were fine in the morning and dead next day.

I don't think there is any other comparable mortality spike in US history, yet the event was almost never mentioned until recently. Despite the efforts of PBS, it's still not well known. The shock caused collective amensia.

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2013/05/27/from-the-archives-memorial-day-for-flu-victims/#comment-37766 Michale Tue, 28 May 2013 12:14:18 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=7428#comment-37766 As always, a stirring and fitting tribute to those men and women who serve and made the ultimate sacrifice. Kudos, CW..... Michale As always, a stirring and fitting tribute to those men and women who serve and made the ultimate sacrifice.

Kudos, CW.....

Michale

]]> By: Hawk Owl http://www.chrisweigant.com/2013/05/27/from-the-archives-memorial-day-for-flu-victims/#comment-37743 Hawk Owl Tue, 28 May 2013 00:56:43 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=7428#comment-37743 Thanks, Chris. I thought I was fairly well up on WW-I history, but had never seen this particular angle so well articulated. Your insights, facts, and phrasing are thought-provoking without losing the fundamentally respectful tone deserved by this "Day of Remembrance." Thanks. Thanks, Chris. I thought I was fairly well up on WW-I history, but had never seen this particular angle so well articulated. Your insights, facts, and phrasing are thought-provoking without losing the fundamentally respectful tone deserved by this "Day of Remembrance." Thanks.

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