Flu pandemic claims 50 million
THE 1918 flu pandemic has been called the most devastating in recorded history, infecting 500 million people around the globe and claiming 50 million lives. About 140 000 people died in South Africa.
The “Spanish Flu” or “La Grippe” of 1918-19 was a global disaster in two phases.
The first emerged in late spring of 1918, in the form of a “three-day fever”. Few deaths were reported in Germany, Britain, France and the United States to maintain morale during World War 1, which ended the same year the pandemic struck.
Its effects in neutral Spain were extensively reported on, giving it the moniker “Spanish flu”.
Theories vary on the deadly flu’s origin, with historians suggesting Chinese labourers transported across Canada were the source.
France’s trenches have been suggested as the breeding ground and the close quarters and huge troop movements of World War I were thought to have accelerated transmission and mutation.
During this first wave, victims recovered after a few days. But when the disease surfaced again the next season, it was more severe. Some victims died within hours of their first symptoms, including
Police reported finding dead and dying flu victims in the streets of District Six and the Malay quarters, and whole families devastated.
The Cape Times carried adverts for medicines to combat the flu and advice on treatment. Pharmacists were ordered to stay open at all hours for those who queued for help. Businesses were closed and the education department forced to delay opening schools for the next term.
Special crèches were opened for infants whose parents were sick or had been killed. The Cape Times reported that they looked after between 600-700 children locally.
On Monday, October 7, the Cape Times death notices ran a full column long and the flu outbreak became the subject of the paper’s first leader. The slow action taken by governmental health officials was harshly critiqued in the Cape Times, which had urged precaution after news of the flu broke, and had done so before the Jaroslav docked.
It was not long before an executive committee was set up to ensure the provision of resources and inoculation depots were set up.
“It is remarkable how such a calamity has helped to level all ranks of society. Working hand in hand we find members of Parliament, highly placed officials, merchants, city councillors and other men of standing, carrying on the good work with others of humbler status,” the Cape Times reported.
The pandemic ended in 1919.