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La Grippe or Russian influenza: Mortality statistics during the 1890 Epidemic in Indiana - PubMed

. 2019 May;13(3):279-287.

doi: 10.1111/irv.12632. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

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La Grippe or Russian influenza: Mortality statistics during the 1890 Epidemic in Indiana

E Thomas Ewing. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2019 May.

Abstract

Background: The Russian influenza, which began in late 1889, has long been recognized as a major global epidemic yet available statistical evidence for morbidity and mortality has not been fully examined using historical and epidemiological tools. This study of cases and deaths in Indiana during the extended time period associated with the Russian influenza is the first scholarly effort to determine the number of victims from this influenza outbreak across a broad regional case study in the US.

Methods: The sources for this study include historical records from the US Census, Annual Reports from the Indiana State Board of Health, and death notices published in newspapers. The available evidence is analyzed using historical and epidemiological methods to determine the consistency of reporting categories, the accuracy of death records, and the applicability of contemporary categories for measuring mortality.

Results: In the 3 years during and following the outbreak of "Russian influenza" in January 1890 in the state of Indiana, approximately 3200 died specifically of this disease while a total of 11 700 died of influenza and other respiratory diseases. These results confirm that extremely widespread influenza contributed to higher than normal death rates by causing additional deaths in related categories, especially pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.

Conclusions: More reliable and thorough analysis of morbidity and mortality during the Russian influenza based on systematic and critical review of local, regional, and national statistics can inform contemporary understanding of the long-term history of influenza epidemics.

Keywords: epidemic; epidemiology; history; influenza; mortality.

© 2019 The Authors. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1

Indiana, Deaths from all causes, January 1883‐18893, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Figure 2
Figure 2

Death Rate, all causes, compared to Indiana, 1890 Census32

Figure 3
Figure 3

La Grippe Deaths in Indiana, 1890 annual report10

Figure 4
Figure 4

Indiana, Deaths from La Grippe and respiratory illnesses, 1890 Report10

Figure 5
Figure 5

Indiana, La Grippe Deaths monthly, October 1889 to September 189310

Figure 6
Figure 6

Deaths from La Grippe and Pneumonitis, October 1889 to September 189310, 33, 41

Figure 7
Figure 7

January 1890 Deaths as percentage of January 1889 Deaths, for largest counties9, 10

Figure 8
Figure 8

Deaths, Indianapolis, Weekly, November 1889 to May 189042

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References

    1. Indianapolis Journal. January 26, 1890.
    1. Indianapolis Journal. January 3, 1890.
    1. Second Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Indiana for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1883. Indianapolis: State Printing, 1884.
    1. Third Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Indiana for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1884. Indianapolis: State Printing, 1885.
    1. Fourth Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Indiana for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1885. Indianapolis: State Printing, 1886.

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