Influenza and Liberty Measles

"The health commissioner reports the influenza epidemic as rapidly subsiding, with only a few new cases being reported," said the Hobart News of January 23, 1919. The previous few months had taught the town that the disease could come in waves. But the winter had been mild thus far, and when people thought of the previous winter — with its blizzard, brutal cold, shortages and, above all, ongoing war — I expect it was difficult for them not to feel optimistic.

Dr. Clara Faulkner, as Hobart's health officer, appeared before the town board to sum up 1918 for them, disease-wise. It had been a rough year: 605 cases of contagious disease reported, compared to only 40 during 1917. About 97% of those cases were influenza. The others were a mix of whooping cough, measles, chicken pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, and "liberty measles."

That's right, liberty measles. No German measles in this town!

There were 52 deaths in 1918 (an increase of 9 over 1917) and 83 births (an increase of 3). I do not know what the population of Hobart was in 1917 or 1918. In 1920, its population was 3,450 (according to a vaguely sourced table on Wikipedia).

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Later that month, the News mentioned that, according to the Red Cross, over 200 Red Cross nurses had died of influenza contracted while treating flu-stricken soldiers, both in the U.S. and abroad.


Sources:
♦ "Health Officer's Report." Hobart Gazette 17 Jan. 1919.
♦ "Local and Personal." Hobart News 16 Jan. 1919; 23 Jan. 1919.
♦ "Of General Interest." Hobart News 30 Jan. 1919.