Download full text
(758.2Kb)
Citation Suggestion
Please use the following Persistent Identifier (PID) to cite this document:
https://doi.org/10.12759/hsr.suppl.33.2021.193-226
Exports for your reference manager
The 1918/19 Influenza Pandemic and COVID-19 in Ireland and the UK
Die Influenza-Pandemie 1918/19 und COVID-19 in Irland und dem Vereinigten Königreich
[journal article]
Abstract The global spread of the coronavirus pandemic has prompted inevitable comparisons with the flu pandemic of 1918-1920. However, in order for such comparisons to be fruitful, it is necessary to acknowledge the similarities between the two outbreaks and their differences. This paper compares different ... view more
The global spread of the coronavirus pandemic has prompted inevitable comparisons with the flu pandemic of 1918-1920. However, in order for such comparisons to be fruitful, it is necessary to acknowledge the similarities between the two outbreaks and their differences. This paper compares different aspects of the "Spanish" flu and coronavirus pandemics in Ireland and the UK during the two periods. The first part of the paper provides a general overview, taking account of the nature of the two diseases and the contexts in which they occurred. The following two sections explore the extent to which both outbreaks exposed underlying social and economic inequalities and the measures taken by central and local government, as well as civil society, to combat the spread of disease. The final section examines the extent to which both pandemics highlighted existing failures and sparked demands to "build back better."... view less
Keywords
public health; epidemic; Ireland; twenty-first century; contagious disease; Great Britain; health policy; twentieth century; inequality
Classification
Social History, Historical Social Research
Health Policy
Free Keywords
Spanish flu; COVID-19; coronavirus; reconstruction
Document language
English
Publication Year
2021
Page/Pages
p. 193-226
Journal
Historical Social Research, Supplement (2021) 33
Issue topic
Epidemics and Pandemics - the Historical Perspective
ISSN
0936-6784
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed