Impact of 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic on Mortality Rates in Savannah, GA, and Implications for Future Epidemic Prevention

Sara S. Plaspohl; Betty T. Dixon

Impact of 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic on Mortality Rates in Savannah, GA, and Implications for Future Epidemic Prevention

Sara S. Plaspohl, Betty T. Dixon

Emeriti, Retired & In Memoriam (JPHCOPH)

Coastal Health District

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: The Spanish Influenza pandemic struck the United States in waves from September 1918 through March 1919. This study investigates the impact of the Spanish Influenza on Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia.

Methods: Primary death records from the Chatham County Health Department were examined and analyzed for the years of 1917, 1918, and 1919. Historical mortality rates in the Savannah area were compared to those for other parts of the United States and world.

Results: Mortality rates attributed to the Spanish Influenza within Savannah closely paralleled similar flu-related mortality rates for comparison populations in New York, London, and Madrid.

Conclusions: These local primary data enable Savannah public health officials to understand the historical trends of communicable disease mortality in relation to other parts of the world, and have the potential to serve as a reference when channeling future resources into epidemic prevention in Chatham County.

Original language	American English
Journal	Journal of Georgia Public Health Association
Volume	5
State	Published - Jan 1 2015

Disciplines

Community Health
Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Public Health
Public Health Education and Promotion

Keywords

1918
Epidemic prevention
Future
GA
Impact
Implications
Mortality rates
Savannah
Spanish Influenza Pandemic

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

https://augusta.openrepository.com/augusta/bitstream/10675.2/618543/1/Plaspohl_5_1.pdf

Cite this

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title = "Impact of 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic on Mortality Rates in Savannah, GA, and Implications for Future Epidemic Prevention",

abstract = " Background: The Spanish Influenza pandemic struck the United States in waves from September 1918 through March 1919. This study investigates the impact of the Spanish Influenza on Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia. Methods: Primary death records from the Chatham County Health Department were examined and analyzed for the years of 1917, 1918, and 1919. Historical mortality rates in the Savannah area were compared to those for other parts of the United States and world. Results: Mortality rates attributed to the Spanish Influenza within Savannah closely paralleled similar flu-related mortality rates for comparison populations in New York, London, and Madrid. Conclusions: These local primary data enable Savannah public health officials to understand the historical trends of communicable disease mortality in relation to other parts of the world, and have the potential to serve as a reference when channeling future resources into epidemic prevention in Chatham County.",

keywords = "1918, Epidemic prevention, Future, GA, Impact, Implications, Mortality rates, Savannah, Spanish Influenza Pandemic",

author = "Plaspohl, {Sara S.} and Dixon, {Betty T.}",

year = "2015",

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day = "1",

language = "American English",

volume = "5",

journal = "Journal of Georgia Public Health Association",

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T1 - Impact of 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic on Mortality Rates in Savannah, GA, and Implications for Future Epidemic Prevention

AU - Plaspohl, Sara S.

AU - Dixon, Betty T.

PY - 2015/1/1

Y1 - 2015/1/1

N2 - Background: The Spanish Influenza pandemic struck the United States in waves from September 1918 through March 1919. This study investigates the impact of the Spanish Influenza on Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia. Methods: Primary death records from the Chatham County Health Department were examined and analyzed for the years of 1917, 1918, and 1919. Historical mortality rates in the Savannah area were compared to those for other parts of the United States and world. Results: Mortality rates attributed to the Spanish Influenza within Savannah closely paralleled similar flu-related mortality rates for comparison populations in New York, London, and Madrid. Conclusions: These local primary data enable Savannah public health officials to understand the historical trends of communicable disease mortality in relation to other parts of the world, and have the potential to serve as a reference when channeling future resources into epidemic prevention in Chatham County.

AB - Background: The Spanish Influenza pandemic struck the United States in waves from September 1918 through March 1919. This study investigates the impact of the Spanish Influenza on Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia. Methods: Primary death records from the Chatham County Health Department were examined and analyzed for the years of 1917, 1918, and 1919. Historical mortality rates in the Savannah area were compared to those for other parts of the United States and world. Results: Mortality rates attributed to the Spanish Influenza within Savannah closely paralleled similar flu-related mortality rates for comparison populations in New York, London, and Madrid. Conclusions: These local primary data enable Savannah public health officials to understand the historical trends of communicable disease mortality in relation to other parts of the world, and have the potential to serve as a reference when channeling future resources into epidemic prevention in Chatham County.

KW - 1918

KW - Epidemic prevention

KW - Future

KW - GA

KW - Impact

KW - Implications

KW - Mortality rates

KW - Savannah

KW - Spanish Influenza Pandemic

UR - https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/commhealth-facpubs/230

UR - https://augusta.openrepository.com/augusta/bitstream/10675.2/618543/1/Plaspohl_5_1.pdf

M3 - Article

VL - 5

JO - Journal of Georgia Public Health Association

JF - Journal of Georgia Public Health Association

ER -

Impact of 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic on Mortality Rates in Savannah, GA, and Implications for Future Epidemic Prevention

Abstract

Disciplines

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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