Influenza on the Western Front :: Journalism Media Studies Health Essays

Influenza on the Western Front NEW YORK--Reports have come in from London that the grippe has now closed his claws upon German troops. Although influenza has spread onto our side, leading doctors believe that the disease will not be so prevalent because the disease spreads [most readily in unhealthy conditions.] With the ever increasing proportion of German troops being reported to hospitals for influenza, the Kaiser is finding it difficult for them to mount a proper offensive against our hearty men. Confiscated letters of German soldiers describe just how widespread this epidemic is. "I feel so ill that I should like to report sick. Fever is rampant among us and already a whole lot of men are in the hospital. Every day more go in. As I have not yet had leave and am expecting to go any day, I shall not report sick yet anyway."1 People who have been reported to suffer from influenza are immobilized in hospital beds for 7 to 10 days. Symptoms suffered include body aches, muscle and joint pain, headache, a sore throat and an unproductive cough with occasionally harsh breathing, fevers raging from 100 to 104 F, sudden dizziness, weakness, and pain.2 It is most likely that influenza spreads so rapidly amongst German troops because they live in filthy trenches and small portions of rations. Such poor living conditions and weakened health provide an opportune chance for the Influenza to strike. Sergeant Bader boasts: "Those Germans do not have a prayer in this world to win. They have so many people falling down due to the grippe that it is making our job easier. The rest are so worn out that they do not have the strength to put up a fight. Most of my men are fine. The government keeps us well fed and clothed. My superiors tell me that staying clean and healthy is the best way to fight this disease. If this continues, we will win by winter." Weather will not hinder the spread among the German troops. For a while it has continued to rain and it seems likely to stay wet.3 Continual rainfall might dampen our troops' moral, but our hopes are high that our enemy will be removed. The origin and spread of the flu This new Spanish type flu has been reported to have originated in Berlin and other German cities and is being transferred into the trenches by men reporting back from their leave.