Why didn't it work?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Was reading an article on the 1918 influenza pandemic.

This article wrote that streets were sprayed with chemicals and people started wearing anti-germ masks. However, it didn't help and killed lots of people instead.

Why?

The article:
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWinfluenzia.htm

RaTtY81 SG

Shocked 40 mil died from influenza

oxford mushroom SG

In 1918, what sort of anti-virals would they have? Remember penicillin was only discovered by chance in 1929 and of course antibiotics won’t work against viruses. The masks they had might work against chlorine (German gas in the trenches) but would not work against viruses.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Masks working against chlorine? Shocked

oxford mushroom SG

Yup...but they had to design a new mask each time for a new gas..

(http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/chemical_warfare.htm)

SingaporeMacross SG

do they have a vaccine for 1918 flu?