Health experts, while pointing out similarities between the present Russia-Ukraine war amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Spanish flu outbreak during World War 1 in 1918, have expressed concern about an expected rise in infection rates due to mass movement of affected people and war refugees.

Nearly five crore people died from the Spanish flu during three years of World War I. According to experts, authorities have much to learn from that incident. Instead of throwing caution to the wind, they should strictly monitor and screen returnees to prevent a similar surge in Covid era.