Tonight 9pm on BBC4

[Loopy Linda in La La Land]

The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Spanish flu) was an influenza pandemic that spread to nearly every part of the world. It was caused by an unusually virulent and deadly influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1

Drama Documentary

Linda

[Olde Crone Holden]

My great grandmother, Eleanor Holden, was supposed to have died of a broken heart when her only child, my grandfather, failed to return from WW1.

In fact, her death cert says she died of influenza (Feb 1919) and the informant was her son!

There were six other people living in the house and none of them caught it, or if they did, they recovered without ill-effects.

OC

[bubblebelle]

It's interesting the mutations of these virus' approx every 50 years and post a conflict... my own conspiracy theories abound.
My g.grandmother died of Spanish flu in 1918, leaving 5 children.

bubblebelle

PS wish I'd watched this rather than WDYTYA, a bit disappointing this week I felt.

[bubblebelle]

Noted and filed Bob ;)

Bubblebelle

[Olde Crone Holden]

Actually, viruses are fascinating things (says sad OC, lol).

They originate in outer space and need a period of turbulent weather to get them to earth. They also need turbulence in order to survive and replicate, which is why we sneeze and cough when we have a cold/flu virus.

I read one suggestion that the Spanish Flu pandemic was made worse because of the turbulent air caused by fighting during WW1! Not as far-fetched as you might suppose.....

OC

[Olde Crone Holden]

Bob

Just make sure you don't waft those trees around and you should be ok......

OC

[bubblebelle]

But is that Olde Crone Holden a double agent.

Bubblebelle

[GallowayLass]

You didn't miss much not watching WDYTYA with David Mitchell. What a waste of an opportunity to show Scottish resources. Not one bit of "how to" to be seen!