It's a Pandemic, Our Ancestor's Would Say, Been There Done That

I previously wrote a blog post about my family and the 1905 yellow fever outbreak Louise and The Last Yellow Fever Outbreak, New Orleans 1905. I can remember my grandmother talking about the 1918 pandemic, she was only 4 but it made a lasting impression on her life. She grew up in New Orleans and in September the headlines read “No Danger of Spanish Influenza Epidemic Here.” They were soon to see how wrong this was. It kind of reminds me of today and the COVID-19 outbreak.
The very day the news printed those ill fated headlines a ship docked in the port carrying with it at least a dozen sick including the ships doctor. The illness quickly spread, churches, theaters and schools were closed. Large gatherings were banned, weddings put on hold. All this seems eerily familiar today. They waited too late to close restaurants, bars and to limit the numbers on streetcars. One news article asks people to cough or sneeze into a handkerchief, cautioning that everyone had to be vigilant to contain the spread. A list of Don't was posted:

• If You Don't Want It? 

• Don't Crowd

• Don't Put Unclean Things In Your Mouth

• Don't Eat or Drink in Dirty Places 

• Don't Eat Without Washing the Hands

• Don't Get Cold or Wet

• Don't Over Exert

• Don't Go Out if You Feel Ill

It was also stated that to wear a gas mask as such that the Red Cross was providing would be the worst thing a young woman of fashion could do. "And for men it would be hard to attract a girl while wearing one. Even a plain girl". Oh my word! The hospitals were overwhelmed and many died at home without medical attention.  By October the Headlines were reading "Not the ordinary flu" They were right this flu was not a human influenza virus but more closely resembled an avian flu. They began warning people if they had a three day fever they had the Spanish Flu.
My grandmother's family still relied on a cistern and she recalled how they worried their water would get tainted. She remembered the masks people wore and the quiet of the times. Her mother became pregnant with her last child during this time. I imagine she had quite a bit of fears for herself and her unborn child.
A year later when all was said and done New Orleans had more deaths per capita than other cities in the U.S. due to the Spanish Flu. They waited too long to implement social distancing. These were the people who had to live with the yellow fever each year prior to 1905, they should have known to take cover? Right?  What changed between 1905 and 1918?
So when you are complaining today about being stuck indoors during quarintine, remember lessons from the past. Louisiana closed their schools right away, set up social distancing rules, they  do not want a repear of 1918.