Final answer:
In 1918, U.S. officials closed public venues, encouraged mask-wearing, and promoted cleanliness to combat the flu pandemic. Various levels of quarantine and public education were key strategies employed to curb the spread of the deadly H1N1 virus, resulting in numerous lives saved.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1918, to stop the spread of the flu pandemic, U.S. officials implemented several public health measures. Schools and theaters were closed, public gatherings were canceled, and mask-wearing was encouraged to limit transmission. In many cities, extreme cleanliness and sanitation practices were recommended by doctors, reflecting an early understanding of infection control despite the limited medical knowledge of the time. Measures to curb the pandemic also included the staggering of work shifts on the home front and the production of public health posters to educate the population on flu prevention.
These efforts were a response to the highly contagious and deadly H1N1 influenza virus that struck in several waves, killing an estimated 675,000 Americans. The combination of measures taken to thwart the spread of the virus, while varied throughout the country, represented an unprecedented public health response to what was one of the deadliest pandemics in history.