A Mysterious Illness Appears
In January 1918, an unusual influenza outbreak struck Haskell County, Kansas. Dr. Loring Miner, concerned by the severity, alerted the U.S. Public Health Service, marking the first recorded report of the virus. Local newspapers listed numerous cases of pneumonia and “la grippe,” suggesting a widespread illness.
The Virus Reaches the Military
Several men from Haskell County were sent to Camp Funston, a major U.S. Army training base. Days later, on March 4, 1918, the first soldier fell ill. Within two weeks, over 1,100 soldiers were hospitalized, and the virus spread to 24 of 36 Army camps, infecting tens of thousands before traveling overseas with U.S. troops.
A Global Pandemic Begins
The virus mutated into a deadly strain, infecting people worldwide. Unlike seasonal flu, it attacked the lungs, leading to severe pneumonia. The pandemic lasted 15 months, killing an estimated 50 to 100 million people, making it the deadliest outbreak in history.
The Impact on the U.S.
The flu killed 670,000 Americans. Scientists later traced its possible origin to Haskell County, though other theories suggest France or China. The virus eventually lost its lethality, evolving into a seasonal flu strain that still circulates today.
In 1918, a severe flu outbreak in Haskell County, Kansas, went largely unnoticed. A doctor reported it, unaware it could be the start of a pandemic. The virus spread to Camp Funston, infecting soldiers who carried it to other camps and overseas during World War I.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/KhQWePZ6Ra
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) February 6, 2025