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The new study, published in a recent edition of Lancet Infectious Diseases, examined US and Commonwealth military records and controversially suggests that the presence of two different viruses is the reason the second wave of the pandemic was so much deadlier.
The conclusions highlight the importance of acquired immunity and the use of modern vaccinations, lead author and Professor at University of Queensland's Centre for Military & Veterans' Health and Director of the Australian Army Malaria Institute, Dr G. Dennis Shanks said.
He said World War I soldiers and sailors of identical genetic and social backgrounds died at very
different rates depending on where they were located.
Geography was thought to have determined what viruses they had previously encountered and conferred resistance on some personnel, while high death rates occurred in other groups.
"There were two major waves of the pandemic, each with very different characteristics," Professor Shanks said.
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He said a similar second wave of influenza had occurred during the 2009 pandemic and understandings of the virus were still imperfect.
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"We are trying to better understand the most extreme influenza pandemic in 1918 so we might avoid such consequences in the future."
Source-Medindia