During the outbreak of influenza in 1918, there was a shortage of medical professionals across the nation. The shortage was caused in part by World War I, as many nurses were sent overseas to aid in the war effort. Another cause of shortage were nurses and doctors themselves getting sick. The shortage of medical professionals, specifically nurses, also effected northeastern Wisconsin.

With the coronavirus pandemic currently impacting our country, it seemed appropriate to discuss another illness which spread throughout the country and Manitowoc County over one hundred years ago, the Spanish flu or influenza.