Influenza epidemic of 1918-19: The second and third waves, recovery

<p dir="ltr">Halloween festivities in 1918 were canceled in <strong>Indianapolis</strong> and other Hoosier cities because of the devastating <strong>influenza epidemic</strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src= "http://hoosierhistorylive.org/images/William-McNiece-2014.png" alt="William McNeice" width="186" height="279" align= "left" />That's been noted during previous Hoosier History Live shows about the infamous epidemic - which is more accurately called a <strong>pandemic</strong> because the often fatal strain of influenza in 1918 and 1919 spread around the world. </p> <p dir="ltr">Also during our previous shows on the topic - including a program that broadly explored <strong><a href= "http://hoosierhistorylive.org/mail/2020-04-18.html">Epidemics in Indiana history</a></strong> and an earlier show focused on the <strong>1918 Influenza Epidemic in Indiana</strong> - medical historians discussed how the label "Spanish flu" mischaracterizes the 1918 health crisis. Our guests explained that contemporary experts point to sources other than Spain for the deadly influenza that caused havoc around the globe more than 100 years ago.</p> <p dir="ltr">During our previous shows, we focused on the origins and the initial outbreaks in Indiana, leaving an unexpected and devastating "second wave" in 1918-19 mostly unexplored. So our distinguished medical historians, <strong>Dr. William McNiece</strong> and <strong>Bill Beck</strong>, will return for this show to share insights about additional aspects of the epidemic - which even included a "third wave" - as well as the eventual recovery.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src= "http://hoosierhistorylive.org/images/Bill-Beck-2014.png" alt= "Bill Beck" width="186" height="295" align="right" />Dr. McNiece, president of the <a href= "https://www.mchsindy.org/"><strong>Marion County Historical Society</strong></a>, is an anesthesiologist at an Indianapolis hospital. Bill Beck, founder of <strong>Lakeside Writers' Group</strong>, is an author who has written dozens of institutional history books,