102-Year-Old Brazilian Elder Survives Both Spanish Flu and COVID-19

Introduced as a rare case overcoming two pandemics
Overcame Spanish flu infection at 9 months old

A 102-year-old Brazilian, Haimundo Leonardo J Oliveira (right in the photo), who contracted and overcame the Spanish flu at 9 months old and this year also contracted and overcame the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). [Image source=Brazil G1 News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A 102-year-old Brazilian man who survived the Spanish flu at 9 months old and this year overcame the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is becoming a global sensation. He is receiving international praise as a person who has overcome two pandemics, both within Brazil and worldwide.

According to local media such as Brazil's G1 News on the 14th (local time), retired farmer Haimundo Leonardo de Oliveira, who lives in Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil, was hospitalized on the 17th of last month after showing symptoms of COVID-19 and was discharged in good health on the 31st, nearly two weeks later. Haimundo, who is 102 years old this year, was treated in the intensive care unit throughout his hospital stay, and his family said that due to his advanced age, his recovery was uncertain.

His granddaughter, Tachiana Cristina de Amorim (32), said, "When my grandfather tested positive for COVID-19, I thought he would not return home," adding, "The news that he recovered from COVID-19 is literally a celebration, and we express our gratitude to all the medical staff."

Previously, Haimundo contracted the Spanish flu at just 9 months old in 1918 and recovered. The Spanish flu was a terrifying infectious disease that spread worldwide starting from U.S. military camps during World War I. It is known that over 500 million people were infected out of a global population of 1 billion at the time, and more than 50 million people lost their lives. In Brazil, it is reported that more than 35,000 people died during that period.

Brazilian local media reported that Haimundo’s recovery from COVID-19, which has caused far more deaths in Brazil than the Spanish flu, makes him an extraordinary case of overcoming two pandemics separated by about 100 years.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.