By Saliu Woru Mohammed
Now that we are almost at cross road over corona virus pandemic rampaging the whole world including my beloved nation, Nigeria, my good people of Kwara State, I consider it a patriotic duty to recall and discuss with you the Spanish influenza also known as Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918, so as to let you know the danger associated with none compliance to Kwara State directives aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly corona virus in the state and beyond.
My good people of Kwara State, the Spanish Flu also known as the 1918 flu was an unusually deadly influenza pandemic. Lasting almost 36months from January 1918 to December 1920, it infected 500million people about a third of the world population at the time. The death toll is estimated to be between 17million to 50million, and possibly as high as 100million, making it one of the deadliest pandemic in human history.
Most influenza outbreaks disproportionately kill the very young and the very old with a higher survival rate for those in between, but the Spanish flu pandemic, resulted in a higher than expected mortality role for young adults. Scientists offer several possible explanations for the high mortality rate of the 1918 influenza pandemic. Some analyses have shown the virus to be particularly deadly because it triggers a “cytokine storm” which ravages the stronger “immune system” of young adults.
There have been statements that the epidemic originated in the United State. Historian “Alfred W. Crosby” stated in 2003.
One of the few regions of the world seemingly less affected by the 1918 flu pandemic was “China” where there may have been a comparatively mild flu season (though this can be disputed due to lack of data during the warlord period in that country China). Multiple studies have documented that there were relatively few deaths from the flu in China, compared to other regions of the world.
When an infected person sneezes or cough, more than half a million virus particles can spread to those nearby. The close quarters and massive troop movement of “World War I” hastened the pandemic and probably both increased transmission and augumented mutation.
In Japan, 23million people were affected with the least 390,000 reported deaths. In the “Dutch East Indies” (now Indonesia) 1.5million were assumed to have died among 30 million inhabitants. In Tahiti, 13% of the population died during one month. Similarly, in Samoa 22% of the population of 38,000 were reported dead within two months, in New Zealand, the flu killed estimated 6,400, in Iran the mortality was very high, according to an estimate between 902,400 and 2,431,000 or 8% to 22% of the total population died.
In the US, about 20% of the population of 105million became infected, and 500,000 to 850,000 died. In Canada, 50,000 died. In Brazil, 300,000 died including President “Rodrigues Alvess”. In Britain as many as 250,000 died, in France, more than 4,000, in Ghana, the influenza epidemic killed at least 100,00 people. Tafari Makonnen (The future Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia) was one of the first Ethiopians who contracted influenza but survived. Many of his subjects did not, estimate for fatalities in the capital city, Addis Ababa range from 5,000 to 10,000 or higher.
The pandemic mostly killed young adults. In 1918 – 1919, 99% of pandemic influenza deaths in the US, occurred in people under 65, and nearly half of deaths were in young adults 20 to 40 years old. in 1920, the mortality rate among people under 65 had decreased sixfold to half the mortality rate of people over 5 but 92% of death still occurred in people under 65.
It has been observed that the mortality death rate of Spanish flu was high perhaps due to non-compliance with the directive and pre-cautionary measures put in place by the government of the affected country then.
Therefore I am appealing to you all and sundry, old and young, big and small to adhere strictly to all precautionary measures put in place by the Government aimed at combating the spread of the pandemic ravaging our state and Nigeria in general. This precautionary measures include the wearing of nose mask, keeping social distance, avoid overcrowded gathering, observing good hygiene at all time by washing our hand with soap and water and regular use of sanitizer. Also, refrain from attending churches or mosques or any religion or social gathering. This precautionary measures are meant for public safety. Therefore, let us join hands with the government in protecting lives and public safety in the interest of our people.
There are good lessons we can learn from the 1918 Spanish inluenza, otherwise known as Spanish flu. Like it, coronavirus hit the whole world suddenly and spread like wild fire, it killed about 50millions people world over. Again like coronavirus there was no cure. The only remedy to the spread of the virus is isolation, quarantine, good personal hygiene, use of disinfectants and ban on public gatherings. Today, over 100years after, the world is faced with a similar threat from a similar virus. Again without any cure, nations and leaders are resorting to the same remedies, isolation, good personal hygiene, use of disinfectants, ban on public gatherings, etcetera. This historical experience is instructive for us to take these preventive and control measures against COVID-19 most seriously.
As a Muslim, I feel pained that due to the pandemic I will not be able to observed congregational prayer in mosque, but I understand that it is a sacrifice I must make to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from having a veritable space in my state and beyond.
Let me remind you that it is when there is life that our business can grow. It is also when there is life that we can find time to rear our children to the expected standard and it is only when there is life that our government (leader) can be able to move us to the next level of development. It has therefore dawn on me and you to face the present challenge of life forced on us by coronavirus, which is beyond our control, by obeying our leaders’ directives and of course it is when there is life that we shall be able to face our religion as expected of us.
We should all remember that in the past both Prophet Muhammed (SWA) and Jesus Christ made one sacrifice or the other in the interest of public safety and humanity, so we should therefore emulate this two great messengers of God.
Finally, our political leaders, the law enforcement agents, and indeed the judiciary are called upon to enforce all preventive measures on coronavirus put in place by the various governments by dealing decisively with any defiance.
*Saliu Woru Mohammed (Ph.D) is the Mogaji Nda of Ilorin.
