On the recordNovember 27, 2018
Flu season is upon us, and I rise today to raise awareness about the 100th anniversary of the deadliest medical catastrophe in history: the 1918 influenza pandemic. 100 years ago, the flu took the lives of more Americans in 1 month than in the entirety of World War I. The 1918 flu pandemic lasted for 15 months. During that time, the average American's life expectancy dropped by 12 years. 100 years later, there are still many outstanding questions about the flu pandemic, but what is certain is that the flu virus still poses an undeniable threat to our Nation. Last year, an estimated 80,000 Americans died from the flu. Investing in research and development for novel antivirals and ensuring people get the flu vaccine is crucial to protecting our Nation from another flu pandemic like the one we faced 100 years ago. ____________________
