Spanish Flu – Part 2

So what were the newspapers saying in 1918/19? Well pretty much the same as today. There aren’t many differences. We are suffering the same fates; lockdown, shortages and the deaths.

The Bedlington Urban District Council gave our ancestors some useful advice which was published in the Morpeth Herald on 22 November 1918: 

The Influenza is prevalent and a large majority of cases at first appear to be amongst school children of school age and therefore it made the call to close all the schools in their district for 2 weeks and longer if necessary. The exclusion of children from places of entertainment and suspension of concerts and dancing for adults was regarded necessary. It was also essential that people stop visiting infected households. A leaflet was sent out to residents to help control the disease. The report then went on to state that there were three types of disease:-

1 – Mild influenza.

2 – Tonic Septicaemia – Affects the throat, temperatures remained high for days which could prove fatal.

3 – Pulmonary Type – This bought complications and often proved fatal.

Dr Roper of Alnwick wrote in the Morpeth Herald on 8 November 1918 that a fresh epidemic had broken out. It started in the rural district and the town had been visited by a similar epidemic in June and he had hoped that they might escape it this time. However, it has started in the town again. He advised that the elementary schools be closed for 2 weeks. The new epidemic was severe in nature; pulmonary complications being common and often proving fatal. Regarding precautions; it would be good if everyone with a cold, cough, headache and backache could stay at home. Coughing and sneezing should be done in a handkerchief and cotton ones boiled or paper ones burnt. He did not think that disinfecting the room was of much use as the infection was carried by the person and spread by breath and droplets from the nose or throat. The incubation period was about 40 hours.