Dr. Allen Marble will speak on "The Great Flu Pandemic of 1918-19: The Nova Scotia Experience" at DesBrisay Museum on October 28 at 7 p.m. 

  In 1918, a pandemic of avian influenza swept the planet, one of the greatest natural disasters in human history. The virus struck with amazing speed, often killing its victims within just hours of the first signs of infection.

 Known as the Spanish flu, it is estimated that between 50 and 100 million died worldwide. Over 50,000 Canadians died.  

 "While researching the history of medicine in Nova Scotia, I noted that the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, the most devastating epidemic to reach Nova Scotia, had been completely overlooked by historians," said Dr. Marble.

 "Nobody had researched the topic and absolutely nothing had been written about the impact the pandemic had on Nova Scotians. I decided it was time that the story be told and that the names of the physicians, who saved the lives of many Nova Scoltians, be identified."

 Dr. Marble is a past-president and fellow of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society. He is the author of "Nova Scotians at Home and Abroad" and many publications on medical history and genealogy.

posted on 10/13/09