1918 FLU EPIDEMIC IN MICHIGAN
"It is estimated that between 25 and 40 million people died from the influenza outbreak that began in 1918, took about 7 days to sweep across America, and three months to sweep around the world. World War 1, which had just ended, took 9 million lives; this epidemic would quadruple that." By Paul V. Hartman
Children made up a jump-rope rhyme
I had a little bird
Its name was Enza
I opened the window
And in-flu-enza
Its name was Enza
I opened the window
And in-flu-enza
Michigan was not spared from this killer called the "Spanish Lady."
The following articles appeared in the Traverse City Record-Eagle
10 Oct 1918 Take Steps to Prevent Spread of Influenza (Grand Traverse County)
10 Oct 1918 Custer Makes Good Progress in "Flu" Fight (Calhoun County)
25 Oct 1918 One Death And Many Ill Cause School Closing (Wexford County)
29 Nov 1918 Influenza Has a Serious Grip on 2 Townships (Leelanau County)
16 Jan 1919 Schools Stay Closed Next Week (Grand Traverse County)
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Traverse City Record-Eagle, Thursday, October 10, 1918
TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT SPREAD OF INFLUENZA
Cases of Dread Disease are Found in Traverse City
CANNOT QUARANTINE
State Health Laws Give No Authority Except To Isolate Cases So It Is Up To Public To Prevent Epidemic
While Traverse City has a few cases of Spanish influenza, and the state board of health does not consider the situation serious, it seems that something should be done by local health authorities to take every possible precaution against an epidemic, such ahas causes so many deaths and so much suffering in southern Michigan cities - Battle Creek and Jackson in particular.
There are at least three cases in Traverse City, and some in rural districts adjoining the city.
In one case on Seventeenth street no precaution has been taken, according to neighbors, to prevent spread of the disease. The father is ill with influenza and it is reported that the children though they have been ordered home from school are not confined to their home or their own premises.
In their contention that Spanish influenza cannot be quarantined, physicians are complying with instructions from the State Board of Health. Nevertheless, Dr. R. N. Olin, secretary of the board, last night informed the editor of the Record-Eagle that all cases should be isolated. what he means by isolation is better understood by physicians than anyone else. Certainly it does not mean permitting children of afflicted families to run at large and expose a neighborhood.
The state laws do not permit quarantine for Spanish influenza. The local health boards have authority, however, according to Dr. Olin, to enact any preventative measures necessary to curb a contagion, and in the case it would seem advisable for the local board to get busy.
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Traverse City Record-Eagle Thursday, October 10, 1918
CUSTER MAKES GOOD PROGRESS IN "FLU" FIGHT
Latest Report Shows Five Hundred Fewer Cases in Hospital Sector
TWENTY-SIX DIE MONDAY
This Brings Total Of Deaths Since September 28 to 120, a Favorable Figure Compared With Other Camps
(BY JAY P. SMITH)
Camp Custer, Oct. 10 This camp made a gain of approximately 500 cases over the influenza epidemic yesterday, but the death toll increased two over the day previous with a list of 26 victims. This brings the total of deaths since September 28 to 120, a figure which looks very large but in reality is small compared to the deaths exacted by the contagion in other camps.
The camp officers are considering themselves lucky thus far in the slow progress which the disease has made, but the truth is that it is much more than luck. It is the result of continued hard work on the part of the entire camp and the judgment which caused several new methods of isolation to be placed in effect. Lucy may have had something to do with the apparent checking of the disease, but the preatest percentage is the result of common sense and immediate action.
During the 24-hour period preceding 7 o'clock this morning, 605 cases developed, and during the same hours, 1,084 were discharged from the hospital. This leaves 5,794 sick, from all causes, in the hospital sectors. Another ray of light in the darkness of the epidemic is the fact that the greater number of the new cases are very mild. The lowering of the nubmer of patients works one big improvement in that is gives the nurses and medical officers greater opportunity to give individual care to the sick.
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Traverse City Record-Eagle, Friday, October 25, 1918
ONE DEATH AND MANY ILL CAUSE SCHOOL CLOSING
Serious Developments Necessitate Quarantine Near Wexford County Line
INFLUENZA CLAIMS BOY
Smith Brith, 14 Years Old Succumbs To Disease All Preceations Being Taken To Prevent Spread of Epidemic
With one death of Spanish influenza and several cases already it existence, conditions have become so serious and the vicinity of Mesick, Glenngarry and Buckley, that schools of Buckley had ordered closed, public gatherings of all nature postponed and every precaution urged to further prevents spread of the contagien.
The first victim is Smith Bright, age 14, a former Traverse City boy. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bright of Glengarryy. The family resided in Trevor City for some time, the father being employed by the Pere Marquette.
The death of Smith Bright occurred Thursday. A younger brother is reported to be critically ill.
Several cases have been reported in the vicinity and the disease around that section of Wexford county is assuming the proportions of an epidemic. Stringent measures are being taken to prevent its spread, the first of these being closing of schools. Buckley, Glengarry and Mesick all are reported to have a number of cases.
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Traverse City Record-Eagle Friday November 29, 1918
INFLUENZA HAS A SERIOUS GRIP ON 2 TOWNSHIPS
Situation in Centreville and Solon is growing more critical hourly.
PUBLIC PLACES CLOSED
Temporary Hospital Arranged at Cedar is Doing its Utmost to Take Care of the Victims
Owing to the increased spread of influenza in Leelanau County, the health officers, through the advice of the doctors have taken steps to close public places and gatherings of every kind, including schools for two weeks. Tuesday the board of health of saw one townshipmet at Cedar, and after learning of the serious condition of the village of this vicinity, started an emergency hospital at Cedar, using the unoccupied Congregational church. A limited amount of hospital supplies with nurses were furnished by the state hospital at Traverse City.
Members of the local Red Cross met that same afternoon and are taking an active part in the heroic Red Cross work, by making supplies, and arranging for the needs as conditions may require.
Thirty-eight persons are reported ill. Many more cases have not been reported. Several cases have pneumonia have developed and some in a serious condition.
Centreville has as many if not more and one death. Dr. Fralick is the attending physician.
Joe Sbonek has pneumonia. A trained nurse is caring for him.
Walter Popa and wife and children are ill and neighbors are caring for them.
Elmer Billman has three cases in his home, his wife and children, Hildegard and Keith.
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Traverse City Record-Eagle, Thursday, January 16, 1919
SCHOOLS STAY CLOSED NEXT WEEK
BOARD OF EDUCATION TAKES STEP TO STAMP OUT FAST DIMINISHING EPIDEMIC
Stormy Session With Health Officials Results in Radical Divergence of Opinion
Schools of Traverse City will remain closed next week. This was decided by the Board of Education as special meeting held this morning at the City Hall, after a rather heated argument in which members of the health department participated.
Everett Whitney was an aggressive member of the Board of Education. He flayed the health department and insisted that the Board of Education would not consent to open the schools even though the city commission that otherwise lifted the ban. In this contention he was support is strongly by A. W. Bartak and certain members of the board.
It is apparent that the Board of Education does not entirely agreed with the health department on the advisability of lifting the influenza ban. Yet the Board of Education does not greatly concern itself with this point. It's only official concern being the schools. And the decision to keep the schools closed was firm enough to reach beyond the realm of half-heartedness.
If conditions continue to improve here it is believed the schools will be opened January 27. It may be stated, however, that if conditions are still alarming schools will continue closed until spring, if necessary, regardless of any action taken by the city commission or the health department with reference to the balance all the city.
In announcing the schools will remain closed, the Board of Education wishes to make it plain that this is not because the situation has grown more serious. In fact, was out an exception, physicians claim that the conditions have improved 100 percent in the last few days. Mayor Swanton, whose practiced for volume can be favorably compared with that of any other physician in town, has not had a new case for four days, and other physicians report a like dying out of the disease. There is no question but that the "flu" has about spent itself here, and it is for this reason that the Board of Education poses to help stamp out completely by keeping the schools closed, they have been branded as the most prolific source of infection in the city.
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