A Century after Yehedar Besheta (The Spanish Flu in Ethiopia): Are We Prepared for the Next Pandemic?

Abstract

One hundred years after the most devastating pandemic in human history (1, 2, 3), and in view of the growing concerns from emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases such as SARS, Avian Flu, Ebola and other fevers) it is appropriate to reflect on the Yehedar Besheta [the Spanish Flu 1918-1919. Even though it might have started in USA (1 2), the pandemic was “an ominous warning to public health” (4, 5). Worldwide, it is estimated to have killed one third of the then estimated 1.8 billion population (2) just in two years which is much more than what HIV/AIDS has killed in 40 years). Sub-Saharan Africa suffered the most where 2% of Africa’s population was wiped out by the pandemic (3). In Ethiopia, the pandemic has not only killed scores of people but ahs also threatened the fabrics of the society (6).