In the 1889–1890 pandemic (possibly the origin of human coronavirus OC43), the virus spread around the world within the first six months. There were subsequent waves for one or two years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1889%E2%80%931890_pandemic

There hasn't been limited international travel for a long time.

Which wasn't the case back then due to WW1, by 1921 half to two thrids of the world became infected with the flu