Abstract

CUENYA MATEOS, Miguel Ángel. Reflections about the 1918 influenza pandemic: The case of the city of Puebla. Desacatos [online]. 2010, n.32, pp.145-158. ISSN 2448-5144.

1918 was a catastrophic year. It marked the end of a decade during which Mexico was harshly struck by political and economical crisis, social upset and several diseases. Among these, the terrible epidemic of typhoid fever (October, 1915-March 1916), and the 1918 influenza pandemic, are outstanding. That year, with the memory of the typhoid fever still present, the city of Puebla suffered in its own flesh the arrival of influenza, as did most cities. In this locality, that pandemic caused nearly 2 000 deaths in 60 days, leading to a sanitary policy crisis and the worsening of existing social conflicts.

Keywords : 1918 influenza; flu; Puebla; health; disease; sanitary policy.