|
Summary and Objective
Activity Description: By comparing the influenza epidemic of 1918 with the Swine Flu (H1N1) epidemic of 2009--almost 100 years later--students will understand that the latter resulted in many fewer reported cases and many fewer deaths. Students will also learn about changes that have taken place in public health care. What is the same what is different about the way we track influenza, measure the number of people who are ill or who have died? How are the ways that the community prevented the spread of influenza in 1918 the same or different from the prevention methods we use now? Would there have been a debate in 1918 about whether or not children and adults should be immunized? What was the treatment for influenza in 1918 and now? Did the people in Western Massachusetts have access to treatment for influenza in 1918? Do they have good access to treatment now why and why not? Would you want to pursue a career in public health or in community health? What kind of work could you do and what kind of work would you want to do?
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Step 1 Pre-lesson information gathering – As a homework assignment one week prior to the lesson, teams of two to three students will read selections from “Shadows in the Valley: A cultural history of illness, death and loss in Nineteenth Century New England” by Alan Swedland, University of Massachusetts Press August 2009. Read portions of Chapter 4 about Fevers of Childhood, particularly sections about record keeping for epidemics in Deerfield and Greenfield, MA. Next go to www.Stanford.ed/group/virus/uda/fluresponse.html and click on Camp Devons and read about the impact of influenza on soldiers and staff stationed there during the epidemic of 1918. There is a Public Broadcasting Service documentary entitled “Influenza 1918” find and view it to learn more about the earlier epidemic.
In order to learn how Western Massachusetts is experiencing the H1N1 epidemic go to mass.gov and type in influenza on the search site. Look at flu facts and any other information that will help you answer your study questions. Next use the web site search to look for Swine Flu cases in Western Massachusetts. Click on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Weekly Influenza Update and print out the table of cases by age. Read any information you can find about the availability of vaccine for H1N1 and determine if vaccine availability was a problem during the epidemic?
Step 2.
Step 2 Go to the American Centuries website and read primary source accounts of the epidemic of 1918 from local newspapers. Find information on the number of cases in Deerfield and Greenfield. Also look for information on the number or medical doctors in Franklin County towns in 1918. How can you find our how many doctors practice in Franklin County now? Read the article from the Greenfield Recorder entitled “Influenza with Us” #L08.041. Also read “ Influenza Epidemic Continues #L08.039 and Influenza Returns – South Deerfield Had Severe Week with It” #L08.040. Look at the Local Matters Column in the Turners Falls Reporter #L08.043 and “Protection Against Influenza #L08.042.
Step 3.
Step 3 Talk with your fellow students in pairs or in groups up to four making lists of what was similar and what was different about fighting flu epidemics in 1918 and at present. Challenge another team to think of more similarities and differences than your team.
Step 4.
Step 4 Make two graphs or tables of the information and data available from the influenza epidemic of 1918 and compare it to an information graph for the existing H1N1 epidemic. What conclusions can be drawn from the graphs? What is an epidemiologist? What is a biostatistician? Were there doctors who specialized in the study of infectious diseases in 1918? Why did so many people die from influenza in 1918? What is you reason why fewer people die from influenza now? Have you had an H1N1 flu shot? Have you had a seasonal flu shot? Why or why not? What is public health? There is a school of public health at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Would you like to study there?
Step 5.
Step 5 Step 6 Post-lesson activity - Write a play that depicts how the flu epidemic of 1918 impacted the lives of soldiers at Camp Devons and then change the play to depict how the care and health services at Camp Devons would be at the present time. Use all members of the group to work on the play including: writing, acting, costumes, staging etc. Present the outcomes to the class and choose your favorite one(s) to be presented to another class.
|
