The 1918 Flu Epidemic on the Eastern Shore by Angela Rieck

The 1918 “Spanish” influenza (ironically most scientists believe it started in the United States) is the most famous pandemic in America. While we are living through our own pandemic, it is interesting to learn how our predecessors fared in the 1918 and 1919 influenza outbreak.

The 1918 virus differed from the current virus COVID 19. The 1918 virus was an influenza and was especially lethal for those between the ages of 10 and 30. Death from the 1918 flu came rapidly, usually within a week, some victims died the same day. Within three days, pneumonia often followed and without antibiotics and ventilators, it proved fatal in 25% of the cases. Those exposed to the spring 1918 influenza were immune to the deadly fall influenza.

Scientists still do not understand why the 1918 disproportionately impacted the young since most flu viruses’ prey on the very young and very old. There are two theories. One is that the flu produced a dangerously strong immune response called cytokine storm causing a lethal overreaction. Other scientists believe that the older generation had been exposed to other flus, thus building antibodies. Conversely, the COVID 19 virus is fatal to those with weakened immune systems and those over 60.

To learn how the 1918 pandemic impacted the Eastern Shore I researched newspaper articles, thesis papers, Public Health Statistics, the Internet and books on the 1918 Flu Epidemic. While I was fortunate enough to find local papers from 1918 and 1919 stored in the Library of Congress, none were from Talbot or Kent county. (The Star Democrat is missing digitized versions from those years.) However, there are similarities among the counties.

Overall, I was struck by how little was reported. There were few news stories; most not on the front page. Articles were devoted to the war effort, shortages, crime and local news.

The first onslaught of this flu in the Spring of 1918 was virtually ignored, and for good reason, there were no influenza deaths in that Spring in either Kent or Talbot Counties, and only 5 reported cases. There were two minor stories about a soldier’s flu, both on page 2.

“If your friend or your relative or your best beloved has a runny cold, don’t kiss him or don’t kiss her and don’t kiss them. They may have the “Spanish Flu.” Bacteriological investigation of the cases which have gotten into this country seem to indicate that there is nothing new or mysterious about this malady. Some of the cases are of what we would call grippe, some of common colds. The only serious thing about it, according to the New York Commissioner of Health, is its tendency to a resultant complication of pneumonia.” Evening capital and Maryland gazette, Annapolis, August 30, 1918.

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