Coronavirus is in the news, with reports of its deadly spread in China leading to the deaths of hundreds. The worst epidemic to have ever hit the world was in 1918. It was called the Spanish flu. It spread across the globe, and it made a deadly arrival in the last three months of that year.

When it arrived in Whiting-Robertsdale, it came as a surprise. It struck the healthy, the young, particularly hard, and within days of the first symptoms it killed them quickly and painfully. Public places were shut down, a ban was placed on spitting in public, and people wore masks to protect themselves. At least 45 Whiting-Robertsdale residents died from the Spanish flu in those months.

You can find out more here about the Spanish flu and its deadly arrival in Whiting-Robertsdale.