Influenza and its Effects

Influenza and its Effects

The latest outbreak of "Spanish Influenza" continues to have a significant impact on life both in London and throughout Europe. The economic consequences are troubling as more and more workers from textile houses, mines and other areas where people are working in enclosed and confined spaces succumb suddenly to the disease. In some cases the onset can be as little as two hours. Industrial areas like London and the Midland areas of Nottingham, Leicester and Northampton have been especially hard pressed. While rarely fatal in the middle-aged, the symptoms of influenza are still dramatic and usually keep the patient out of work for a number of days. However after this period it disappears as swiftly as it came. Already burdened by the demands of wartime production industry has taken a heavy blow. Despite effective treatment with quinine Influenza is spreading faster than doctors can keep up, and indeed now there is scarcely an area of the country left unaffected by it. In some places the number of workers affected is as high as 70 percent.

This would be far worse for the Allies were it not that the Germans were also severely affected by this outbreak, as reported by correspondents on the Western front. Berlin is said to have upwards of 160,000 cases of influenza, half of which are children. This coincides with another influenza outbreak in India, which is depleting their work force in a similar manner to that in England. The current climate is exceedingly dry and hot and it is felt that this may be contributing to the spread of the illness. Before May few if any cases of influenza were reported in or around London or elsewhere in Europe lending credence to this association. Other nations in Europe are also significantly impacted and it is believed that this current outbreak came to Europe from the south and worked its way northwards, hence its characterization as "Spanish Influenza".

The fact that half of the cases in Berlin are children is similar to the situation in England. In Birmingham several schools recently had to be closed due to influenza outbreaks and in Egham, Surrey one school reported 50 to 60 cases and another over 130. Again this is thought due both to the climate and the fact that the students are together indoors for extended periods.