The flu epidemic of 1918-19 is the largest pandemic ever. One-third
of the world population was infected and 20 to 50 million people died. Although
it is sometimes called the Spanish Flu, it probably first developed in or near
a military base in Kansas.
This epidemic inspired not only many scientists
but also many authors of fiction.
First, the
science. In 2005,
scientists reconstructed this H1N1-type flu virus that caused the 1918
epidemic. They believe at least
a portion of the human population has some residual immunity to this or similar
viruses. That means the virus that caused the 1918 epidemic probably could not
cause another epidemic. BUT new mutations of avian or swine flu viruses
could create a new flu virus transmittable among humans. In that situation,
humans might have no residual immunity to the virus and another pandemic could
occur.
Now the
fiction. Epidemics
are the basis of many famous novels and movies. Consider: The Stand by S. King,
The Plague by A. Camus, Arrowsmith by S. Lewis, World without End by K. Follett.
Generally, the medical details are incorrect in these novels, and the epidemics
resemble a mix of cholera, plague, and flu.
Authors have used
the epidemics so frequently in fiction because epidemics are urgent situations which
bring out the best and worst in their characters. Probably, the most
interesting use of the 1918 flu epidemic was in Downton Abbey. It was a way to eliminate lady’s Mary’s rival for
the attention of Matthew Crawley.
The most
realistic view of an epidemic occurred in the 2011 movie Contagion. However, this movie didn’t allow viewers to develop much
sympathy for victims. The Flu Is Coming realistically
portrays what would happen if a new virulent flu virus struck but allows
readers to have empathy not only with patients and medical personnel treating
patients but also scientists and police trying to control the spread of the
flu.
Prescription. Try it, ,you’ll like learning a bit
of science on drug development while you’re frightened by the quarantine and
what it unleashes among residents of a small community.
Blog: In The
Flu Is Coming, a new type of flu — the Philippine flu — kills nearly
half of the residents in an
upscale, gated community in less than a week. A quarantine makes those who
survive virtual prisoners in their homes. The Centers for Disease Control recruit Sara Almquist, a
resident of the community, to apply her skills as an epidemiologist to find
ways to limit the spread of the epidemic. As she pries into her neighbors’
lives, she finds promising scientific clues but unfortunately learns too much
about several of them.
The paperback version of The
Flu Is Coming is available at: https://www.amazon.com/Flu-Coming-Science-Traveler/dp/0578423251. The Kindle version at:
https://www.amazon.com/Flu-Coming-Science-Traveler-Book-ebook/dp/B07KX3J37W
Bio: J.L.
Greger is a scientist and research administrator turned novelist. She
likes to include tidbits of science in her award-winning thriller/mystery
novels: Murder: A Way to Lose, Riddled with Clues, and others. To learn more, visit http://www.jlgreger.com
