Public Record
Impact of the 1918 Spanish Flu in Canada and Pandemic Preparedness
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society hosts a panel discussion in Ottawa to mark the 100th anniversary of the Spanish flu pandemic. The discussion focuses on the social and political impact of the pandemic on Canada, and how experts are preparing for the next pandemic. The 1918 Spanish flu was the deadliest flu pandemic in human history, killing an estimated 50 million people. It also claimed the lives of at least 50 000 Canadians. Alanna Mitchell, science journalist and a contributing editor for Canadian Geographic magazine, leads an in-depth discussion with Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, and Esyllt Jones, a University of Manitoba history professor and author of a book on the Spanish flu. They explore topics such as the pandemic’s impact on Indigenous communities, prevention and treatment, and the role of media in reporting pandemics. (September 20, 2018)
