zlacker

> People did not blame Spain for xenophobic reasons, just because the Spanish press was the first to report on it.

That doesn't disprove xenophobia at all. The Spanish press reported on it first because every nation involved in WWI very aggressively censored any mention of the flu. After the war, they had every incentive to play into people's natural xenophobia rather admit to covering up the disease. Here you see the Spanish Flu depicted as a flamenco lady:

https://c8.alamy.com/comp/G386J3/the-spanish-flu-epidemic-ov...