Wolfgang, good to read from you, I was just thinking this morning I hadn't noticed you in any posts of late.

I heard the same tale of "Spanish Influenza" this morning on (US) National Public Radio.

A couple of years ago I read "The Great Influenza" by Barry which indicated that the origin of the great flu was, uncharacteristically, The United States.

In the book "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" by Rhodes the tale is told of Leo Szilard being prepared to be thrown into one of the last stages of WWI only he took ill with The Flu, and not trusting army doctors and having the personal means, he got himself to a civilian hospital. The rest of his mates were sent to the front and none came back. Fourteen years later he was to conceive the idea of a nuclear chain reaction.

There is plenty of paranoia about the current flu being 'manufactured'. Ultimately I think this can be disproved, (or proved), but in the meantime the internet and various shady motivations can spread fear and rumor well ahead of facts. Plus it is cheap entertainment.