Читать книгу Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory Investigations онлайн

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In the city of Boston during the week ending August 28, at the Naval Station at the Commonwealth Pier, 50 cases of influenza occurred and within the next two weeks more than 2,000 were reported in the naval forces of the First Naval District. Of these 5 per cent. developed broncho-pneumonia with a mortality of more than 60 per cent. From here it probably spread to Camp Devens and thence ran rapidly over the country. There can hardly be a question that it spread along the lines of traffic. Up to November 9 there were reported 3,339 cases among the civilian population of Boston. There were 3,430 deaths from influenza, the presumption being that these were due to bronchial pneumonia, although not reported as such. The deaths from all forms of pneumonia were reported as 942, making in all 4,372 deaths from September 7 to November 9. This discrepancy—that is more deaths than reported cases of influenza—is due to the fact that influenza was not made a reportable disease until the date of October 4, fully a month from the time the epidemic appeared. The weather conditions were generally fair and no noted abnormality is recorded as compared with other years. The statement of the Health Department of this city was that, after a practical disappearance of influenza in October, there was a slight recurrence in November and a more pronounced recurrence about the first of December, since which time the cases have slowly but steadily decreased, until at present—December 21—the fatalities attributable to influenza are about 20 daily.