Flu Pandemic (1889-1890)

Notable Pandemics

The Flu pandemic of 1889, also known as the Russian Flu, was a deadly influenza pandemic. Scientists have discovered that the flu pandemic was caused by a strain of Influenza type A virus. It was believed to have killed about 1 million people worldwide. The Russian flu infiltrated other countries through ships, however the origins of the virus are still unknown, and it was transmitted through human to human contact. The symptoms of the Russian flu are similar to those of the common flu; this particular flu was considered to be a more mild strain, regardless of the death toll. At the time of the outbreak, there was not a vaccine created, therefore individuals were forced to wait until the virus died out; which it eventually did.