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May 6, 2020 · In 1918, advanced masks like the N95s that healthcare workers use today were a long way off. Surgical masks were made of gauze, and many people’s flu masks were made of gauze too.
- Becky Little
- 6 min
The 1918 Flu Pandemic peaked the same month as World War I ended, and contributed to the instability around the world in the following decades. It also inspired a search for causes and cures that contributed to medical innovation in World War II, and technologies we still use today.
- Malloryk
Sep 1, 2023 · Masks were not used widely and well enough to make much of a difference, but public health authorities tended to believe in their effectiveness for front line workers exposed to the worst of the flu pandemic.
Amidst the deadly 1918 global influenza pandemic, Johnson & Johnson introduced the Epidemic Mask. Made from sterile gauze, the mask helped prevent the flu’s spread. At a time when most vaccines were undiscovered, simple public health products like this inexpensive mask were vital tools in the fight against disease.
Oct 29, 2020 · In mid-October of 1918, amidst a raging epidemic in the Northeast and rapidly growing outbreaks nationwide, the United States Public Health Service circulated leaflets recommending that all citizens wear a mask.
Apr 3, 2020 · During the 1918 flu pandemic, scientific research around mask use was still largely anecdotal – and the compelling story of one ocean liner caught people’s attention.
Apr 15, 2020 · Responses instead focused on containing its spread. One of the most commonly promoted pieces of advice was to wear a mask. The scale of the disease created mass panic. Churches and schools were closed, while local businesses and services that remained opened struggled with staff shortages.
