In 1918, the world faced two significant epidemics, with the Spanish influenza being one of them. This outbreak began at a military base in Kansas in March of that year and quickly spread across the United States. As soldiers were shipped to Europe, the virus traveled with them, illustrating the tragic irony of how the desire for conflict was overshadowed by a devastating illness.

The pandemic not only impacted public health but also highlighted the interconnectedness of the world during a time of war. The rapid globalization of the virus emphasized the futility of human efforts to wage war against one another, as a microscopic enemy proved to be just as lethal, if not more so, than the battles being fought on the ground.