Dr. Fred and the Spanish Lady: Fighting the Killer Flu

At a time when SARS and mounting fears of a new flu pandemic are capturing headlines across North America, the story of medical health officer Dr. Fred Underhill and his battle against the 1918 Spanish influenza that killed 25 to 50 million people worldwide is particularly timely.

Underhill is symbolic of the senior public health officers in cities across Canada and the US who mounted the best defence they could against the killer flu. His vision, his tireless efforts, and his dialogue with colleagues in Seattle and elsewhere saved many lives. And his patient advice and findings are still relevant today as we await the new viral epidemics that undoubtedly lie ahead.

In their enlightening account of the events of that era, authors O'Keefe and Macdonald have crafted a compelling story of people coming together in a time of crisis.