As people worldwide adapt to living with the threat of COVID-19, and especially as the rate of new cases continues to grow in the United States, the wearing of face masks remains widely recommended, and in many places, mandatory. A century ago, an outbreak of influenza spread rapidly across the world, killing more than 50 million—and possibly as many as 100 million—people within 15 months. The scale, impact, and nature of the disease back then were all very different from today’s pandemic—but the act of wearing a face covering to prevent further contagion became widely adopted, then as now. While some of the masks were made of improper material or were not used properly, most provided some level of protection against transmission by blocking droplets from the nose and mouth. Below, a collection of images from a century ago of people doing their best to keep others and themselves safe.
The Influenza Masks of 1918
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Two men wearing and advocating the use of flu masks in Paris, France. The signs translate roughly as: "The [Germans] are defeated, yes, but the flu is not" and "Mask yourself and mask each other. Try it, you'll like it." #
Topical Press Agency / Getty -
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Left: A letter carrier in New York City, October, 1918. Right: Thousands of these masks were distributed by policemen to all police stations, to be used whenever duty called in New York City. #
National Archives -
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Left: A conductor checks to see if potential passengers are wearing masks in Seattle, Washington. During the influenza epidemic, masks were required for all passengers. Right: A worker wears a mask to prevent the spread of influenza. The New York Health Board admonished citizens to wear masks to check the spread of the influenza epidemic: "Better ridiculous than dead," was the view of one official. #
Library of Congress via AP, National Archives, Library of Congress / The Crowley Company / AP -
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A sailor and a member of the Women's Motor Corps wear masks while treating influenza patients injured by the explosions of a coal loading plant at Morgan, New Jersey, on October 5, 1918. #
National Archives
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