Analogies to the 1917-1919 Spanish flu epidemic and the current COVID epidemic are described in this Portuguese article. The combination of the effects of World War I, the fall in rubber prices due to competition from Asian supplier markets and the effects of the Spanish flu caused enormous human and material losses. Similarly, the current COVID epidemic “emerged in the middle of the economic recession from which we were trying to escape, further weakened the economic recovery efforts of our countries, spreading the disease, death and fear.”
Between 1917 and 1920, short-term measures were taken to alleviate the local and regional economic crisis. Added to the “Brazil nut” were other products abundant in the Amazon rainforest, such as sarsaparilla, balata, elastic gum, among others. Calling it "... the resurrection of an industry ...", there were even those who thought about reactivating the exploration of the corner to alleviate the crisis. However, the effects of the World War, coupled with the health crisis due to the proliferation of patients infected with the "Spanish flu", were felt severely. At the end of 1918, when the pandemic was declared, basic necessities began to become scarce, including foods such as wheat flour and sugar, shortages were present both in Manaus, Villa Bella and Riberalta, no exception.”
Bolivia currently ranks first in export of nuts from the Amazon. “As with elastic gum until the 1920s, since 2010 Great Britain and the United States have been the main buyers of the product (33% and 28% respectively). Taking a page from history, public policies are urgently needed “to alleviate the crisis (economic support, issuance of bonds and agreements with Brazil).”