Kansan led efforts to ‘swat the fly’ a century ago

The COVID-19 pandemic has led many to research the infamous 1918 Spanish flu. Kansan Samuel Crumbine helped lead the ongoing battle against the pandemic a century ago.

By and

State News

April 7, 2020 - 10:05 AM

A statue of Samuel Crumbine, a pioneer in Kansas public health, near the Statehouse in Topeka. Photo by The Journal / Kansas News Service

If Samuel Crumbine were alive today, he’d recognize the precautions that Kansans are taking to limit COVID-19.

There’s little doubt he would approve of the closing of schools, theaters and restaurants.

He would worry about Kansas hospitals and wonder if their staffs are prepared for a crisis.

But mostly, he’d be determining how, once again, the government could persuade the public to take seriously the threat of a global pandemic.

It was 102 years ago that Crumbine, a public health reformer and executive officer of the Kansas State Board of Health faced down a similar crisis — the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

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