The onslaught of an influenza pandemic is not unfamiliar news. Between 1918 and 1919, nearly 30 million people died from what became known as the Spanish flu. As mysterious then as it is now, the flu had unknown origins, but its impact was worldwide. Here's a historical look at the breadth of this indifferent and unpredictable virus.

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The flu has been running its unpredictable course for ages.

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From the Spanish flu to the avian flu to, yes, the pig flu, the virus continues to elude us, and the timeless solutions of praying, gargling and mask-wearing are still probably our best bets. To learn more, read about the 1918 pandemic here.

By Claire O'Neill

categories: Daily Picture Show

10:08 - April 27, 2009

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