the most devastating diseases in human history with an estimated
50 million deaths worldwide; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that approximately 500 million
people, or one-third of the world's population, became infected
with this virus and the high mortality in healthy people was a
unique feature of this pandemic; and
WHEREAS, More than 675,000 Americans are estimated to have
died during the pandemic, 50,000 of which were in Pennsylvania;
and
WHEREAS, The 1918 influenza pandemic galvanized scientific
research into the causes of influenza and ways to ensure that a
worldwide influenza pandemic does not happen again, resulting in
the first influenza vaccine being developed in the United States
in 1938 to ensure that soldiers would be protected in the advent
of World War II; and
WHEREAS, Today, the worldwide research and public health
communities continue to work together to understand the 1918
influenza pandemic and society has learned from that experience
and influenza immunization today remains an effective tool for
limiting influenza illness, protecting the public health and
saving lives each year; and
WHEREAS, An informed and prepared public is essential to
minimizing the health effects of influenza and the resulting
consequences to society and this is achieved through learning
important health and safety information concerning influenza
with material targeted at groups including families, travelers,
workers, communities and health professionals; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of October 2018 as "1918 Influenza Pandemic Remembrance
Month" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1918
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