I think you are right ycct in that it takes terrible focus to really 'get it'. Understandably the media (haven't avoided but) aren't crammed with the distressing personal stories. It's tough enough to deal with what we do know. Perhaps this is what happened with the 1918-on epidemic and others that faded from our consciousness.
In contrast there is the long-term impact of the arts in showing the UK WW1 experience - all that literature, painting, sculpture, music, film. I think the some of the bereaved from this epidemic are already working towards having a public memorial that may speak to this.