My article for Spectator:The killer came from the east in winter: fever, cough, sore throat, aching muscles, headache and sometimes death.
It spread quickly to all parts of the globe, from city to city, using new transport networks. In many cities, the streets were empty and shops and schools deserted.
A million died. The Russian influenza pandemic of 1889-90 may hold clues to what happens next — not least because the latest thinking is that it, too, may have been caused by a new coronavirus.In addition to the new diseases of Sars, Mers and Covid-19, there are four other coronaviruses that infect people.
Read more on rationaloptimist.com