The name ‘influenza’ originated in 15th century Italy
In 1580, the first pandemic or worldwide epidemic, that clearly fit the description of influenza occurred in Italy. Influenza is a highly infectious viral illness. The name ‘influenza’ originated in 15th century Italy, from an epidemic attributed to ‘influence of the stars.’
In Rome, it caused the death of over 8,000 people, while in Spain it decimated the populations of entire cities.
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Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine
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