Question

40
the spanish flu (or great flu) was caused by a new influenza a virus, and likely didnt originate in spain. the virus was highly contagious and spread quickly throughout the world. from 1918 to 1919 about 500 million people were infected with this flu, which was 1/3 of the worlds population at the time. it killed about 50 million people (about 3% of the worlds population). symptoms were similar to those of a seasonal flu, but more severe. they included a sudden and often very high fever, cough, body aches, sore throat, chills, and fatigue. most deaths from the flu were due to secondary bacterial infections, like pneumonia, which caused respiratory failure and sepsis. many people died the very day their symptoms started.
this is an example of a(n)
the symptoms of flu in these people were
this flu was caused by a(n)
this highly contagious disease is called a disease.

Explanation:

• Pandemic: A pandemic is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a large region, for instance, multiple continents or worldwide. The Spanish flu infected about 1/3 of the world's population at the time, which fits the definition of a pandemic.
• Acute: Acute symptoms develop suddenly and are usually severe but of short duration. The Spanish flu symptoms like sudden high fever, cough etc. that often led to death quickly (many died the day symptoms started) are characteristic of acute symptoms.
• Virus: The text clearly states “The Spanish flu (or Great Flu) was caused by a new influenza A virus”.
• Communicable: Communicable diseases are infectious diseases that spread from one person to another. The Spanish flu was highly contagious (a key characteristic of communicable diseases) and spread quickly worldwide.

Answer:

1. pandemic
2. acute
3. virus
4. communicable