Pandemic of 1918

1. Pandemic of 1918 “Spanish Flu” in Yakima County

2. Yakima County 1918 • County population 60,000 • State population 1,350,000 Yakima - Yakima Ave. looking west from 3rd St. Sunnyside – New 1918 Chevrolet truck, Speck Motors

3. Pandemic Begins in Military Camps • September 19, 43 deaths reported in Boston; authorities say disease is under control. 5000 soldiers at Camp Devens under treatment. • September 20, Epidemics at Camps Devens, Mass., Upton, NY, Dix, New Jersey, Lee, Virginia. Number of cases not released. 108 deaths at camps during the week, compared to 95 the preceding week. • September 21, Boston—13 deaths in last 12 hours. 2000 cases Chicago, 1 death; Great Lakes training camps, Boston and Philadelphia stations, and Quantico, VA. • September 23, American transport arriving at “Atlantic port” had 36 cases influenza (wartime censorship). • September 24, “Mild epidemic” Eastern cities, prevalent at Camp Lewis. No cases in city.

4. Influenza Spreads Rapidly • September 25, “Rapid spread in East”. Prevalence of influenza in 26 states. 80 deaths at Camp Devens in 24 hours. 437 deaths from influenza and 155 from pneumonia in 10 days—Boston. • September 27, Death rate of army at home beyond control; “death rate 4.4% compared with 2.3% the preceding week.” Cancelled draft call-up. • September 27, Trades and Labor council seeks dismissal of Dr. Cresswell, county health officer because of bad conditions at county isolation hospital. Conditions recently improved. • September 28, “Health of Camp Lewis men remarkably good.” Rumors, false reports published. “No deaths from disease for 6 months.” • September 28, E. Wakefield, Yakima, dies at Camp Lewis after 1 week pneumonia. (note contradiction with prior entry)

5. Pandemic Arrives in Washington • October 4, (Wire service) Death rate in army camps 34.4 per 1000, increase of 30% over previous week. Spreading rapidly throughout the country. • October 4, 8 cases smallpox Yakima; “Health of city stays at usual high level.” • October 7, Seattle public gathering places closed; influenza 6 Washington counties; 7 men died at Aberdeen naval station in 48 hours. Galleries of Congress closed. Camp Lewis—“Quarantines are valueless.” • October 8, 50,000 civilian cases in South; no army camps escape. 25,000 cases Ohio. Seattle has 192 cases since Saturday. Bellingham closes all public places.

6. First Cases in Yakima County • October 9, 2 cases Spanish influenza Yakima; all schools, theaters, pool and card rooms, the public library, and churches closed for indefinite time. Seattle has 313 new cases. • October 10, 4 cases influenza; two Yakima servicemen dead. 249 new cases Seattle. • October 11, All schools, churches, theaters, public gatherings closed in county. 2 new cases. “Fever, pain, depression are prominent symptoms of the disease.” Army death rate—81.8 per 1000 for week ending October 4. 50 cases in Portland. • October 12, 20 cases in Yakima county. Passengers panic on train from Seattle. • October 12, Historical review, prior pandemic 1890; first US cases on ship from Boston August 28; “the disease has already spread across the continent with a rather high fatality rate” • October 14, “Number of cases increased by 12 since Saturday.” All schools closed.

7. Nurses Scarce • October 15, 5 new cases, many more unreported. 13 in Yakima. Nurses scarce. Headline says, “Cases seem to be decreasing.” • October 16, (Wire service) 6200 deaths in 30 cities week ending October 12. Philadelphia reports 700 deaths with 1990 new cases. 90 new cases Portland, with total 465 cases in week. • October 16, “Four Yakima men in service died from influenza.” • October 17, 5 new cases in county, 3 in city. • October 18, 14 new cases influenza; schools remain closed. 40 cases since outbreak 10 days ago. • October 19, Officials seeking site for hospital. 46 cases so far in city; 12 in county, many unreported. Whole families ill. Armory, fairgrounds, Parish House all considered as venues. Nurses needed.

8. Gauze Masks Required • October 19, Death rate in army camps of 206.4 per thousand. “Epidemic under control.” • October 19, Camp Lewis quarantined, to lessen the transfer of influenza with visiting relatives. > 200 cases in 24 hours. • October 21, Parish House to be influenza hospital. 65 cases in city, 21 in county. 7 deaths.”300 cases of grippe and pneumonia.” All public gatherings prohibited. • October 22, 16 new cases influenza (12 in city). • October 22, (wire service) “Influenza raging along coast.” 1242 new cases San Francisco, 19 deaths. Gauze masks required. 4000 new cases Calif. Butte saloons closed.

9. Healthcare System Overwhelmed • October 23, 10 deaths from pneumonia or influenza last month. 10 new cases in 24 hours. Nurse shortage. • October 24, 12 new cases, 1 death, several patients seriously ill. • October 25, 22 new cases, 27 (largest number yet) day before, with 2 deaths. Total city so far 120 cases, with 16 deaths. • October 26, 34 new cases today. 141 cases in city. 2 deaths in last 24 hours. Gauze masks must be worn. “Nurses imperatively needed.” Physicians cannot keep up. “Keep off the streets.” All meetings banned. • October 28, 42 new cases, 183 total city cases. 3 deaths today. Courts closed for 2 weeks. Nobody allowed into jail.

10. Disease Still Spreading • October 29, 134 new cases, 3 deaths. All stores except groceries and butchers closed for 6 days. Banks open 10-1, masks required. People advised to keep off the streets. (Total city cases to date 341 cases reported, actual estimate 5 times that number.) 40 deaths in San Francisco. 174 new cases Portland. • October 30, 114 new cases, 0 deaths last 24 hours. Total 455 Yakima cases reported to date. The disease is still spreading. 24 patients in the emergency influenza hospital. School districts furlough 453 teachers. Major businessmen (W.E. Draper, Joe Ditter, Charles Wooding) approve the business closings. • October 31, “Local doctors too rushed to even check up on the number of cases they have. One firm reports that it had 35 new cases of the disease yesterday and another physician announces 14.” In Prosser “it is said that there are many cases of the disease and no doctors available.” “In Seattle the disease was thought to be fairly well under control when suddenly it became much worse.” In San Francisco there were 77 new cases “between 5 o’clock last night and 11 o’clock today. There were 36 deaths.”

11. Cases Declining in City • November 1, 579 cases so far - 5 persons die of influenza in the past 24 hours. Physicians were still too busy to report on new cases. School will not be opened for the coming week. • November 2, “The influenza situation appears to be at a standstill. 7 deaths have occurred from influenza or pneumonia in the past 24 hours.” Gaining in state, Seattle - “’Influenza steadily but slowly gained in Washington during the week ending today’. Dr. L.D. Tuttle, state health commissioner, announced today. Last week 7339 new cases were reported. This week, Dr. Tuttle said, the cases will total around 9000.” • November 4, “Influenza seems to be safely on the decline in city.” One death from influenza reported in 24 hours and epidemic slows. 39 patients in city influenza hospital, which is greatest number so far. Stores were opened. State board of health continued the wearing of gauze masks.

12. World War I Ends • November 5, “Four doctors last night reported they had a total of 52 new cases for the day. The remaining 7 physicians who are treating influenza patients have not turned in any reports.” • November 6, 5 deaths in the last 24 hours. • November 7, 14 people arrested for not wearing gauze masks. 106 cases of influenza in the past 24 hours. Total cases reported 764. 1 death, making a death total of 44 since start of pandemic. • November 8, 18 men tried for not wearing masks. • November 9, 50 deaths in Yakima and 39 deaths in county to date 18,000 soldiers died from influenza. “Many cases of pneumonia, 2 deaths.” • November 11, Masks removed one day—to celebrate defeat of Germany.

13. Ban on Public Gatherings Lifted • November 12, “Epidemic of Influenza has killed more Yakimans than have died in war”. Ban on public gatherings lifted. 54 Yakima servicemen died of influenza. 50 Yakima residents died of influenza. Estimated 3500 cases in Yakima altogether. 30 male deaths, ages newborn to 60, median age 36; 21 female deaths, ages 11 to 60, median age 32. • November 12, Theaters to open here this evening. • November 13, No new cases • November 14, Headline--“Yakima death rate low.” • November 15, Headline--“Spreading in county.” Grandview 13 new cases in 24 hours. Homes placarded. • November 18, Fear smallpox epidemic. 4 deaths from pneumonia (influenza).

14. Second Wave Begins • November 20, Smallpox and scarlet fever spreading. • November 21, 5 schools still closed because of influenza. • November 27, Influenza again on increase -“Physicians not reporting cases but several have said that the number has increased in the last few days. There are 31 patients in the influenza hospital.” This marked the start of the “second wave”. • November 28, “Influenza sweeps Italy.” “One third of the personnel of the railways have been victims of the malady.” • November 29, 15% of Yakima’s teachers are sick. • November 29, “City Influenza hospital has greatest number of patients (38) in its history.”

15. Death Rate For Year Up 25% • December 2, “Influenza is increasing.” Hospital has 41 patients, as many as it can possibly accommodate and St. Elizabeth’s hospital is also crowded. ”Dances are prohibited “. Dr. Cresswell says that many persons have urged him to put the ban on again, while many others are strongly opposed to making any restrictions.” • December 2, “22 teachers out of city schools today—work badly handicapped.” • December 3, “People know that influenza is prevalent here and yet they have gone ahead and held their dances, church meetings and large gatherings of all kinds.” The Health Officer stated, “Although the number of deaths which have occurred here is large, many of those who have succumbed are from outside of the county.” The total death rate through December 1 was 300, compared to 240 for the entire previous year, representing an excess mortality of 25%.

16. School Absenteeism High • December 3, Spokane closes schools, children under 12 forbidden to attend church. • December 3, 1,042 students absent, 1,988 students present. The second wave was in full swing. • December 3, Influenza strikes post office at start of 1918 rush. • December 4, “Jail inmates are influenza victims.” Street car workers are hard hit. • December 4, 1,162 students absent, 1,979 students are present (Yakima).

17. Influenza Takes High Toll • December 4, “Death toll during November is heavy. 60 deaths from influenza occurred during the month of November in this city and in the adjacent rural districts. There were 23 deaths from other causes.” Of total 64 deaths in city of Yakima, 46 were from influenza, 5 from TB, 4 from heart trouble, two pneumonias, and other causes. 14 of 19 deaths in the rural districts were from influenza. • December 5, “Forces of health agencies crippled.” • December 5, 1,210 student absent, 1,808 present—attendance still slipping. • December 5, 25 teachers off job because of illness. • December 6, Advice on how to treat influenza; rest, good diet, avoid complications.

18. Deaths Decrease In Second Wave • December 9, “Influenza gains headway in city in past 24 hours.” 7 deaths in past 24 hours. Superior court is closed. Nurses completely unavailable. 25 patients in city influenza hospital. • December 10, “Second wave seems to be passing away.” 2 deaths in 24 hours. “Yakima’s first and second influenza epidemics differ in several respects. The first epidemic rarely attacked children, and a large percentage of the severe cases developed into pneumonia.” 60 deaths. “School children have not been immune in the second epidemic and there are today over 1,200 youngsters out of school, many of them with influenza. There have, however, been comparatively few cases in which the disease has developed into pneumonia, and while there have undoubtedly been more persons afflicted during the second wave of the disease, there have been only 15 deaths of people living in Yakima or its vicinity.” • December 10, 1,269 students absent, 1,853 present.

19. Preventive Measures Debated • December 11, Influenza rules announced by health officials -Persons recovering to be masked for one week. Health officer’s consent for gatherings required. Children or teachers refused admission to school for one week after recovery. • December 11, 1,234 students absent, 1,907 students present. • December 12, (Wire service)—“Epidemic has killed 400,000 persons in three months, 20 to 40 years old.” “Reports on influenza made at the closing session of the American Public Health association meeting today brought out widely divergent views about preventive measure, with the chief dispute between health officers from large cities and those from rural communities. Frederick Hoffman of Newark, N.J., reporting for the committee on vital statistics said nearly 400,000 had died in this country the past 3 months and they were chiefly men between 20 and 40 years old.”

20. Situation Improves Dec. 17 • December 12, 1,146 students absent, 1,968 present. Influenza begins at Rimrock camp. • December 13, “6 deaths from influenza today. 18 deaths caused in last 4 days but outlook is hopeful.” 15 houses placarded. • December 16, “Yakima today has 713 cases in which the victim is under a physician’s care”. “6 patients died at the city influenza hospital in the last 12 hours.” • December 17, School attendance 25% improved. • December 19, Influenza situation improved. 2 deaths in last 24 hours. • December 19, 843 students absent, 2278 present. • December 20, “For the first time in 6 weeks 24 hours have passed without a death from influenza.” • December 23, “No deaths from disease since Saturday, but 22 patients still in hospital.”

21. Additional Cases Lower Valley • December 25, 118 deaths from influenza in Yakima, and 36 deaths in adjacent county areas to date. “Assuming there have been 6000 cases of influenza in the city, the percent of fatalities would be 1.9%,” 50 women died, 68 men. “The largest number of deaths have occurred where the victims were between the ages of 20 and 30 years.” Ages 30-40 represented the next highest proportion of fatalities. • December 26, “Influenza ban lifted today.” 17 patients were in the hospital. • December 27, Influenza hospital to be closed January 1. “In Mabton and Grandview influenza has broken out again, worse than ever.” • December 31, “County establishes a tent hospital in Canyon forest.”

22. School Attendance Improved • January 2, (wire service) - Influenza postpones wool grower’s meeting in Salt Lake City. • January 2, 531 students absent, 2,625 present. • January 7, 45 of 80 deaths in December 1918 were due to influenza. • January 8, 26 influenza patients in the Grandview emergency hospital. “Mabton is having the most difficult with the influenza.” • January 9, (wire service) - Epidemic still has hold on California. Public asked to wear gauze masks in San Francisco. • January 13, “Little influence in county,” says Cresswell. • January 14, Influenza subsiding in Sunnyside, but new cases are still developing.

23. 1918 – 32% of Deaths From Flu • January 23, 263 students absent, 2,700 students present. • January 31, 234 students absent, 2,807 present. • January 23, “Hospital once more crowded - St. Elizabeth’s Hospital crowded with influenza patients. • February 4, “Vital statistics of year given out. 32 per cent of total number of deaths in city resulted from influenza.” “120 deaths, 32 percent of the total for the year, resulted from influenza. Of this number, 73 were between the ages of 20 and 40 years, 12 younger than 20, and 23 old [than 40].” • February 5, Smallpox causes concern - “Health officers say there is little influenza in the county now.” “There are a good many cases of influenza now, but most of them are light.”

25. Acknowledgements • Compiled by C. Donald Williams, MD • Information sources: • Yakima Daily Republic • wire service reports • Photographs from www.yakimamemory.org Yakima Valley Museum collection