The Influenza Epidemic of 1917-1918

Between 1917 and 1918, the influenza epidemic, known pejoritavely as the "Spanish flu," resulted in approxiamtely 21 million deaths worldwide. The rate of contagion was affected by World War I migration, as well as by information censorship. In the United States, Spanish-language newspapers such as El Mañana and La Prensa provided more extensive and accessible coverage than other media outlets.

The analysis of this epidemic reveals issues similar to those of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as racism, the lack of effective health measures and the spread of misinformation. The collection "The 1918 Influenza Epidemic" highlights how Spanish-language newspapers documented the epidemic, emphasizing the crises caused in affected communities and the public response.