Table 2.
Comparison of the 1918 and 2019 pandemics in the United States.
| Pandemic Characteristics | 1918 Influenza Pandemic | 2019 Coronavirus Pandemic |
|---|---|---|
| Epidemiology | ||
| Disease Pathogen | Influenza A (H1N1) | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Pandemic Origin | Fort Riley, Kansas, USA | Wuhan, China |
| Pandemic Waves | 3 | 1 as of June 21, 2020 |
| At Risk Population (Age) | 15–34 years | 65+ years |
| Life Expectancy Reduction | yes | no |
| Overall Mortality | 675,000 | 119,810 as of June 21, 2020 |
| Environment | ||
| Hospital Environments | open-air | airborne infection isolation |
| Quarantine Measures | yes | yes |
| Military Environmental Risk | yes | no |
| Airplane Environment Risk | no | yes |
| Reduced Public Transit | yes | yes |
| Urban Environment Deficiencies | yes | yes |
| Behavior | ||
| Social Distancing | yes | yes |
| Cloth Face Mask | yes | yes |
| Racial Profiling | yes | yes |
| Public Gatherings | no | no |
| Political Resistance | yes | yes |
| Widespread Protests | no | yes |
| Inequalities | ||
| Healthcare Discrimination | yes (sanctioned) | yes |
| Health Provider Discrimination | yes (sanctioned) | yes |
| Economic Inequalities | yes | yes |
| Rural vs. Urban Inequalities | yes | yes |
| Preexisting Health Risks | yes | yes |
| Mortality Disparities (Race) | White Americans | African Americans |