Depending on where you look, sources will say that anywhere from one in four to one half of the world’s population was infected with the flu in 1918 & 1919. No matter which rate is correct, or wither it be somewhere in between, The Spanish Flu is the worst influenza outbreak in history (PBS.org). The flu outbreak was so bad; it actually lowered the average life span by 13 years.

About 65 percent of all Spanish Influenza fatalities happened in October of 1918. Police officers, Doctors, gravediggers, and nurses where also infected with the flu, and consequently, about 25 percent of public safety officials failed to report for duty. (All information, except for the noted PBS source, was found in the videos posted below)