102-year-old lady living healthy after surviving Spanish flu, Covid-19 | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
June 20, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2025
102-year-old lady living healthy after surviving Spanish flu, Covid-19

Offbeat

TBS Report
03 December, 2020, 12:10 pm
Last modified: 03 December, 2020, 03:25 pm

Related News

  • Woman who survived Spanish flu, world war succumbs to Covid
  • Reasons to be optimistic
  • US elections in pandemic: Case of 1918 midterms amid Spanish flu
  • K-pop band Twice to release English version of their album ‘More and More'
  • 106-year-old Spanish flu survivor from Delhi, beats Covid-19

102-year-old lady living healthy after surviving Spanish flu, Covid-19

Friedman's enthusiasm certainly didn't come without any hardships

TBS Report
03 December, 2020, 12:10 pm
Last modified: 03 December, 2020, 03:25 pm
Photo: CNN
Photo: CNN

A 102-years old woman living in New York is doing wonder in terms of surviving the pandemics while the world is losing thousands of lives everyday. 

Angelina Friedman, who lived through 1918 Spanish flu, survived coronavirus in April and then she was diagnosed with Covid-19 for the second time, and she successfully survived that too, reports CNN. 

According to her daughter Joanne Merola, the lady survived cancer, internal bleeding and sepsis throughout her life. 

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"My invincible mother tested negative," Merola said.

Friedman's first diagnosis occurred in March after she was in the hospital for a minor medical procedure, hospital administrator Amy Elba told CNN earlier this year. When she returned, she had tested positive, Elba said.

At that time, she spent a week in the hospital before returning to isolate in her room. With a fever on and off for several weeks, Friedman finally tested negative on April 20, Merola told.

In late October, Merola received a call from the nursing home, she told the affiliate, "to tell me she had tested positive again."

"She had symptoms -- fever, a dry cough," Merola said. "They thought she might also have the flu."

With more staff and residents getting sick, Merola said the older residents were put in isolation. She received daily updates on her mother, until November 17 when she received the news that Friedman had tested negative.

A second test confirmed the negative results, and Friedman was moved out of isolation back to her regular room.

While she's lost most of her hearing and her vision is poor, she's still celebrating life.

"She is a mover and a shaker," Elba told CNN earlier this year.

But Friedman's enthusiasm certainly didn't come without any hardships.

In 1918, Angelina Sciales (now Friedman) was born on a ship that was transporting immigrants from Italy to New York City. It was in the midst of the 1918 pandemic. It's not believed that the baby contracted the disease.

Her mother died giving birth, and her two sisters helped her survive until they could reunite with their father in New York, where they lived in Brooklyn, Merola told earlier this year.

Merola's mother and father battled cancer at the same time, but her father died.

One of 11 children, Friedman is the last surviving.

Yet Friedman continues to be a source of joy and entertainment for those around her. She's a big knitter and makes all kinds of things for visitors. She got a big party for her 101st birthday and last year she was crowned prom queen.

"She's not the oldest to survive Covid," as Merola said, " But she may be the oldest to survive it twice."
 

Coronavirus chronicle / Top News

102 years old lady / surviving coronavrus / twice / Spanish flu

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • A view of burnt cars and a damaged residential building at an impact site in Be'er Sheva, Israel following Iran's missile strike on Israel on June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
    Israel and Iran exchange new strikes as US weighs military role, diplomatic efforts intensify
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. Sputnik/Sergei Guneev/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
    As Trump weighs action, Xi and Putin subtly warn against escalation in Iran-Israel crisis: CNN analysis
  • BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi speaking to reporters on 20 June 2025. Photo: UNB
    Indian policymakers conspiring to rehabilitate Awami League: Rizvi

MOST VIEWED

  • BAT Bangladesh to shut Mohakhali factory, relocate HQ after lease rejection
    BAT Bangladesh to shut Mohakhali factory, relocate HQ after lease rejection
  • Mashrur Arefin appointed Chairman of the Association of Bankers Bangladesh
    Mashrur Arefin appointed Chairman of the Association of Bankers Bangladesh
  • From 18m to 590m francs: Deposits from Bangladeshis fly high in Swiss banks in 2024
    From 18m to 590m francs: Deposits from Bangladeshis fly high in Swiss banks in 2024
  • Students attend their graduation ceremony. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
    US resumes student visas but orders enhanced social media vetting
  • Emergency workers at Soroka Medical Center after an Iranian missile strike, Israel June 19, 2025. Photo: Reuters
    Khamenei 'cannot continue to exist', Israeli defence minister says after hospital strike
  • Representational image. Photo: Bloomberg
    NBR’s policy reversal jolts oceangoing shipping, $3.5b investment, $1b yearly freight at risk

Related News

  • Woman who survived Spanish flu, world war succumbs to Covid
  • Reasons to be optimistic
  • US elections in pandemic: Case of 1918 midterms amid Spanish flu
  • K-pop band Twice to release English version of their album ‘More and More'
  • 106-year-old Spanish flu survivor from Delhi, beats Covid-19

Features

BUET Professor Md Ehsan stands beside his newly designed autorickshaw—just 3.2 metres long and 1.5 metres wide—built for two passengers to ensure greater stability and prevent tipping. With a safety-focused top speed of 30 km/h, the vehicle can be produced at an estimated cost of Tk1.5 lakh. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Buet’s smart fix for Dhaka's autorickshaws

7h | Features
Evacuation of Bangladeshis: Where do they go next from conflict-ridden Iran?

Evacuation of Bangladeshis: Where do they go next from conflict-ridden Iran?

1d | Panorama
The Kallyanpur Canal is burdened with more than 600,000 kilograms of waste every month. Photo: Courtesy

Kallyanpur canal project shows how to combat plastic pollution in Dhaka

2d | Panorama
The GLS600 overall has a curvaceous nature, with seamless blends across every panel. PHOTO: Arfin Kazi

Mercedes Maybach GLS600: Definitive Luxury

4d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

Deposits from Bangladeshis fly high in Swiss banks in 2024

Deposits from Bangladeshis fly high in Swiss banks in 2024

2h | TBS Stories
US joining Israeli strikes would cause hell: Iranian minister

US joining Israeli strikes would cause hell: Iranian minister

4h | TBS World
Bribery exposed: BBS report reveals year’s dark data

Bribery exposed: BBS report reveals year’s dark data

18h | TBS Today
Is the story of nuclear weapons just to justify military operations?

Is the story of nuclear weapons just to justify military operations?

19h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net