[Report 1918] / Medical Officer of Health, Coventry County & City.

  • Coventry (England). County and City Council.
Date:
1918
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1918] / Medical Officer of Health, Coventry County & City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    69/168 (page 61)
    Epidemic Influenza. In common with the rest of the country, this City suffered severely from the epidemic of Influenza towards the end of the year. No less than 463 deaths were registered as due to this cause, and an increase occurred in tlie deaths attributed to Bronchitis and Pneumonia ; doubtless this increase was owing to the epidemic, although not specifically stated on the death certificates. Mad it not been for this outbreak the general death rate for the year would have been the lowest on record. In a letter dated November 3rd, 1918, the Local Government Board asked that certain particulars concerning the local incidence of the epidemic should be included in this report, e.g., the deaths from Influenza for each week during the year, the age and sex distribution of the deaths, &’C. Tables giving this information are here given. It will be seen that the outbreak—which was severe in some neighbouring towns in July—only had a comparatively slight incidence in Coventry at that time; and that the severe epidemic wave commenced at the end of October, reached its maximum in the middle of November, and declined altogether in the third week in December. The cases were distributed throughout the whole City, and the illness was most fatal among voung adults. The figures relating to school attendance showed that this was greatly affected, but a large number of children were apparently being kept at home to lend help in stricken households. Nurses were in great demand and the available nursing services were unable to meet the requirements. The Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital placed some of their wards at the disposal of patients suffering from Pneumonia; the tvpe of Pneumonia prevalent was, however, very severe, and hospital provision after this complica- tion appeared seemed to have little influence on checking a fatal ending; so much was this apparent that it has been suggested that the mere removal to hospital was in itself harmful. On the suggestion of the Board, a leaflet was distributed regarding precautions that might be adopted. So little, however, is known concerning how the illness can be averted that it is doubtful to what extent these could have any influence on the spread of the epidemic. Probably the best advice that could be given was to advise that anv illness resembling a “ cold ” should E