INFLUENZA

Being written

INFLUENZA. Influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is an infectious disease. The most common symptoms are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort. Sore throat, fever and coughs are the most frequent symptoms. In serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia. This can be fatal, particularly for the young and the elderly. Although influenza is often confused with the common cold, influenza is much more severe. Influenza may produce nausea and vomiting, particularly in children, but these symptoms are more common in the unrelated gastroenteritis, sometimes called "stomach flu" or "24-hour flu".

Generally, influenza is transmitted through the air by coughs or sneezes. Influenza can also be transmitted by direct contact with bird droppings or nasal secretions, or through contact with contaminated surfaces. Influenza viruses can be inactivated by sunlight, disinfectants and detergents. As the virus can be inactivated by soap, frequent hand washing reduces the risk of infection.

In Dubuque the influenza epidemic of 1918 ranks as one of the city's worse health events. The population had already witnessed 611 deaths from the disease in 1917. By October 18, 1918, state health officials had ordered all theaters, schools, churches, movies, and lodge rooms across the state closed. In Iowa, influenza claimed 6,543 lives. In Dubuque, 823 people died. Among the agencies taking an active role in caring for the ill was the DUBUQUE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION which maintained a twenty-four hour answering service at its office in the BANK AND INSURANCE BUILDING and operated a "motor service" through the efforts of W. H. Gunn. (1)

Dubuque carpenters were removed from work sites to construct coffins. Football games and other gatherings were canceled. Mayor James SAUL prohibited local colleges from accepting day pupils until the epidemic had subsided. The Dubuque Electric Company put additional trolleys into service to reduce crowding that could lead to the disease spreading.

The newspapers were filled with safeguards to prevent an individual catching the flu. Will's Cascara Bromide Quinine should be taken "at the first sign of a cold." "Anointing" the nose "to protect delicate membranes" was a frequently suggested course of action. Nature's Remedy, a laxative, promised that keeping the organs of digestion and elimination active would protect a person from the illness.

In 1919 more than 614 Dubuque residents died. On October 1st, Spanish influenza became a quarantinable disease as required by state health regulations. The rules specified that the quarantine would be maintained until the infected people had a complete recovery certified to in writing by the attending physician or three days after the temperature returned to normal. Upon recovery, the patient was to have a complete change of clothing with the clothing worn during illness aired in the sun for at least eight hours. The house was to be aired for the same amount of time. (2)

In February, 1920 the United States Surgeon General telegraphed each state health commissioner with three directives. First, the United States Board of Health and the State Board of Health ordered that all new cases of influenza and pneumonia must be promptly reported to the local board of health and victims quarantined and that this information should promptly be reported by telegram to the State Board of Health. In addition deaths must be reported in the same manner. The State Board of Health would report this information daily to the United States Board of Health. Secondly, people were to avoid crowds and avoid breathing into the faces of others. Third, undertakers were forbidden to hold public funerals for those who had died of influenza or pneumonia nor would the bodies of such people be exposed in any way. The Iowa state health officer also wrote to the city council asking that physicians correctly identify Spanish influenza by that name and no other. Posters were available with the symptoms of Spanish influenza. (3)

At a special meeting of the city council on February 3, 1920 it was suggested that all newspapers be asked to inform the public that all churches, theaters and places of gathering should be well ventilated. Keeping schools open was considered important because they could maintain a better record of all communicable disease. The City Sanitary Officer offered a resolution to be offered the State Housing Commissioners--(4)

             Be it resolved: by state housing commissioners that we 
             recommend to the next Iowa legislature that they pass 
             appropriate legislation giving the local board of health 
             the power to compel water companies to put in water mains 
             and furnish city water to such portions of cities as to 
             the local board of health shall deem for the best interest 
             of the people living in such communities

It was moved and carried that the clerk would have notices printed covering instructions relative to holding public funerals over the bodies of anyone who had died of influenza or pneumonia and that a copy be sent to every doctor, undertaker and pastor in the city. It was also moved and carried that anyone having a vault cleaned be instructed not to pay the bill until the vault had been measured by the sanitary officer. It was also moved and carried to continue the same restrictions that had been used in 1919. Large stores were to be closed in the evening. Church services were limited to 45 minutes. Elevators were limited to 6 passengers and street cars could only carry their seating capacity. All moving theaters, dance halls (public and private), and skating rinks were closed. (5)

In 2009 Dubuque residents braced for the possibility of another flu epidemic. Swine-flu, better known as H1N1, threatened to close schools across the nation. By early 2010 several Iowans had died of the disease, but the initial threat of the disease seemed unfounded. More inclined to affect the young, one theory suggested that older Americans may have had some defense to the disease from their earlier bouts with Asian flu in the 1950s. Vaccines which were scarce in September 2009 were so widely available that by February 2010 those wishing the "shot" could receive it at many pharmacies.

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Source:

1. "VNA Helps with Influenza Cases," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, October 20, 1918, p. 17

1. "Influenza May be Quarantined Now," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, October 1, 1919, p. 8

2. "City Council Proceedings," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, February 7, 1920, p. 3

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.