. The optical microscope is regularly used to identify pathogenic microbes. In 1918 the Spanish Flu infected almost one third of the world and was thought to be caused by bacteria. However, a virulent virus was the cause of the Spanish Flu. From what we have learned throughout this lab on microscopy, why weren’t scientists able to identify the Spanish Flu with an optical microscope?

Respuesta :

Answer: it was too small to be seen by optical microscope unlike many bacteria

Explanation:

The disease formerly referred to as Russian flu' before it was later known as the 'Spanish flu' was considered as acts of god in 1918.

It was first thought that the causative agent was Pfeiffers bacillus. Alas, they were wrong. It was caused by VIRUS.

The disease caused the destabilization of social and political orders for decades.

They later cultured the virus from diseased tobacco leaves.

Scientists could not identify the virus because it was too small to be seen by an optical microscope.

When the Spanish flu ravaged the world, scientists were unable to find out what caused it for a long time because:

  • they kept looking for a bacteria as viruses were relatively a mystery
  • they couldn't see the virus as it was too small for optical microscopes

For this reason, scientists could not properly identify the cause of the Spanish flu which meant that they could not devise means to combat it.

In conclusion however, scientists could not see the virus on an optical microscope because it was too small.

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