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The number of students enrolled at the University of Virginia was 957. The first cases occurred as early as September 24. There were 290 of these in number, and three died of broncho-pneumonia. The epidemic was reported as having abated on December 15, but a few cases appeared after that date.
1918 Epidemic at Pittsburgh
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At the Army General Hospital No. 24, located at Hoboken, a few miles outside of the city of Pittsburgh, on September 28 two soldiers were taken ill and, with the disease unrecognized, they were removed to the cantonment hospital at Point Breeze, within the city proper. The men were found a few days later to be suffering from influenza, and from this presumable source an epidemic spread rapidly among the troops and student soldiers located here.
From September 28 until November 20, 1,392 cases of influenza occurred among the enlisted men. How the infection reached the first two cases at Hoboken is not known. The command here consisted of the Student Army Training Corps of the University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Institute of Technology, Motor Mechanics of the University of Pittsburgh and the Ordnance and Quartermasters’ Department on detached service. The strength of this command was approximately 7,000. The first case appeared on September 30 and the diagnosis was made on the following day. Beginning October 13, all soldiers of this group were inoculated with two 1 cc. doses of vaccine, obtained from the New York State Board of Health. At the height of the epidemic there were about 840 soldier patients in the several hospitals of the city at one time. Cubicles were used in the hospitals, and in the barracks a floor space of 50 square feet was allowed to each man. The men slept alternately head to foot, with paper screens intervening, which were changed daily. In company formation they were instructed to gargle their throats and clean their teeth morning and night under the supervision of their officers. Strict military quarantine was maintained throughout the entire camp, no congregating was allowed, classes were suspended and only open-air drills were permitted. For the entire command there were 220 cases of pneumonia, with 99 deaths, an average mortality of 44 per cent. The dishes were boiled in the hospitals, and sanitary dishwashers were used in all mess halls. The kitchen help and personnel were inoculated with influenza vaccine, with apparently good results. The Magee Hospital, with 375 beds, was under strict military control. When this was full, all others were treated in the civilian hospitals.