The Flu

In the dark ages, before our Medical knowledge and advancements. The people believed the Sun, Moon, and the position of the Planets were directly responsible for all manner of bad things.  Earthquakes, floods and famine. The word Disaster, Means  "bad star"

They believed that sickness and disease were caused by a direct influence of the stars.  So, from the ancient Italian word for this influence, we still today call it .. Influenza. !