adminThe Rhodesia Herald, 14 October 1918
THE news from all over South Africa concerning the spread of the Spanish influenza is so serious that it amply warrants the imposition of the most stringent measures to prevent an epidemic in Rhodesia.
On Saturday our Bulawayo correspondent informed us of the spread of the epidemic in that centre, and we also understand that the Government received telegraphic information from Dr Fleming, the medical director, who is at present in the neighbouring province, to the effect that the epidemic is spreading with great rapidity and great inconvenience is being caused.
Upon receipt of this news, the Government lost no time in publishing a Government Gazette Extraordinary, declaring influenza an infectious disease under the Public Health Act, 1883.
This was followed by an announcement closing all churches, schools, places of amusement and public meetings outside the Municipality of Salisbury until further notice.
The Government further prohibited the travelling of all native passengers by trains. The Government action was taken simultaneously with action by the municipality, which has closed all churches, schools, Sunday schools, places of entertainment, and have prevented the holding of public meetings within the town. The municipality naturally greatly regrets to adopt these drastic measures, but believed the interests of the public health demand them, and the Council expressed the hope that the townspeople will co-operate heartily in carrying out the measures with the object of endeavouring to prevent an epidemic in this town.
We gather that up to the present there are only about 20 cases of the disease in Salisbury, and it is still hoped that anything approaching a serious epidemic will be avoided.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
When it’s said there is nothing new under the sun, that is a truism. As the global community is struggling with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we must realise that a century ago, the world faced a calamity: the Spanish influenza pandemic.
The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 to 1919, was the most contagious the world had ever experienced. An estimated 500 million people were infected and about 50 million died. In Zimbabwe, 20 000 black people and 516 whites perished.
The Spanish flu had no cure, just like COVID-19. The containment measures being put in place for COVID-19, are not different from what was done during the Spanish influenza.
Although it is important to know the original source of COVID-19, more resources should be channelled towards finding a lasting cure, for there have been too many deadly viruses since the outbreak of the Spanish flu, including HIV and Ebola.
Despite advances in the health sciences, control efforts against COVID-19 remain limited to non-pharmaceutical interventions like isolation, quarantine, use of disinfectants and limited public gatherings.
In the then Rhodesia, gatherings were banned, schools, churches and entertainment centres were closed due to the Spanish flu.
Online Reporter