This influenza epidemic was the most serious epidemic to sweep Australia in the past 200 years. It was probably brought to Australia by soldiers returning from World War One, and first appeared in Melbourne in January 1919. It was already devastating populations around the world – a total of 21 million people died from the disease, more than had been killed by the war. Australian authorities were warned and were able to take precautions that saved many lives. To prevent spread of the virus, everyone was required to wear a gauze mask in public. Many places where crowds might gather were closed – including schools, libraries, churches, racecourses and many hotels. Quarantine camps were set up in cities as well as at state borders – people had to wait there a week to be sure no symptoms would appear. Most people who were infected did recover eventually. Even so, more than 10,000 Australians died. More than half of these deaths were of people between 20 and 39 years old, and more men than women died.