A gripe espanhola de 1918 versus a pandemia da covid-19 em 2020: comparações pertinentes

Abstract

The history of humanity is marked by pandemics with vast epidemiological impact, events that negatively impact the development of humanity. The main pandemics with wide repercussions and that marked the century in which they occurred were the Plague of Justinian in the 6th century, the Black Death in the 14th century and the Spanish Flu in the 20th century. Thus, the present study aims to: describe the arrival of the Spanish flu of 1918 and the COVID-19 pandemic in Alagoas and compare the actions of the State of Alagoas to face the two pandemics. This is a documental study of a social-historical nature based on the Comparative History Problem method. It was possible to identify similarities between the "Spanish flu" and COVID-19, the measures adopted in the State of Alagoas, even with a century of difference and the occurrence in periods with such different economic, political and social situations followed the same course. Both victimized thousands of people, especially the poorest sectors of the population, there was suspension of funeral ceremonies, adoption of social isolation and stoppage of productive activities. There was intense public debate about the disease, death, forms of contamination and the governmental measures adopted. Despite the Spanish Flu and COVID-19 pandemics having occurred in very different periods, the similarity between them is undeniable, not only in relation to the characteristics of the disease; but also, in terms of prevention, behaviors adopted by the general population and actions adopted by the government. Both evidence the health irresponsibility of government officials and the weaknesses of health services. In addition, they expose the fragility of humanity and also reveal social inequalities.