The influenza B virus was isolated
In 1940, Thomas Francis, Jr, MD isolated the influenza B virus from a child in 1940. Francis helped…
Margaret Pittman showed that sulfapyradine was effective against nontype-specific Haemophilus influenzae
In 1939, Margaret Pittman showed that sulfapyradine was effective against nontype-specific Haemophilus influenzae. Pittman discovered that there are…
Influenza vaccine developed to protect US military forces
In 1938, Thomas Francis, Jr., MD and Jonas Salk, MD served as lead researchers at the University of…
Sir Macfarlane Burnet discovered that influenza virus could be grown in embryonated hens’ eggs
In 1936, Sir Macfarlane Burnet discovered that influenza virus could be grown in embryonated hens’ eggs. This led…
Scientists created the first filter able to trap viruses
On Jul. 8, 1933, Christopher Andrewes, Laidlaw and W Smith from the Medical Research Council (MRC) reported that…
The etiology of ‘swine influenza’ was established
In 1931, Rockefeller Institute investigator Richard Shope published the first of three landmark papers that established the etiology…
The final tally for New Orleans stood at 54,089 cases and 3,489 deaths
By April 1919, following upticks in influenza over winter, the final tally for New Orleans stood at 54,089…
By the end of the influenza epidemic in Omaha, almost 1,200 people had died
in 1919, by the end of the influenza epidemic in Omaha, almost 1,200 people had died, with a…
The Stanley Cup playoffs between the Montreal Canadians and the Seattle Metropolitans cancelled by Spanish flu
On Apr. 1, 1919, the Stanley Cup playoffs between the Montreal Canadians and the Seattle Metropolitans ended tied…
Denver slowly returned to normal after its flu epidemic, and schools reopened
On Jan. 2, 1919, Denver slowly returned to normal after its flu epidemic, and schools reopened. Schoolteachers came…
Louisville experienced a third wave of influenza cases
By late February of 1919, Louisville experienced a third wave of influenza cases, but finally began to return…
Birmingham experienced a third wave in influenza cases and deaths
In Jan. 1919, Birmingham experienced a third wave in influenza cases and deaths.
Boston experienced an excess death rate of 710 per 100,000 residents during the influenza pandemic
By 1919, after the end of its second winter influenza wave, Boston had experienced an excess death rate…
Washington, DC one of the hardest-hit in the nation with 1918-1919 influenza pandemic
In 1919, Washington, D.C. suffered spikes in influenza cases throughout the remainder of 1918, and into early February…
The University of Oregon began offering courses in nursing
In 1919, the University of Oregon in Eugene introduced the state’s first professional courses in nursing. The courses…
By the end of the influenza epidemic, Philadelphia had suffered 748 deaths per 100,000 people
In 1919, by the end of the influenza epidemic, Philadelphia had suffered a terrible cost of 748 deaths…
Influenza cases dwindled through the winter of 1918, yet persisted into April 1919
In 1919, influenza cases dwindled through the winter of 1918, yet persisted into April 1919 sporadically. About 9…
Kansas City schools reopened as the influenza epidemic waned
On Dec. 30, 1918, Kansas City schools reopened as the influenza epidemic waned. The New Year came and…
Nebraska Board of Health made influenza a mandatory quarantine disease
On Dec. 24, 1918, following a late spike in more influenza cases, the Nebraska Board of Health made…
Health Commissioner lifted remaining St Louis closure bans during influenza pandemic
On Dec. 20, 1918, after declining influenza cases, Health Commissioner Starkloff lifted remaining St. Louis closure bans.
Cincinnati Board of Health officials reversed business hour restrictions
On Dec. 14, 1918, meeting in special session, members quickly decided that the influenza situation in Cincinnati had…
Louisville Health Officer Baker implemented another influenza closure order for the city
On Dec. 12, 1918, following a second spike in influenza cases especially among schoolchildren, Louisville Health Officer Dr….
Cincinnati Health Officer recommended regulating businesses’ hours during Influenza pandemic
On Dec. 12, 1918, following an increase in influenza cases, Cincinnati Health Officer Dr. William H. Peters recommended…
Salt Lake City and Utah health officials allowed churches and theaters to reopen during influenza pandemic
On Dec. 6, 1918, Salt Lake City and Utah health officials met to modify their closure order, to…
Minneapolis officials closed more schools due to a second spike in influenza cases among children
On Dec. 3, 1918, Minneapolis officials closed more schools due to a second spike in influenza cases among…
Following another increase in influenza cases among children, the LA Board of Education ordered all public schools closed
On Dec. 10, 1918, following another increase in influenza cases among children, the Los Angeles Board of Education…
St. Louis experienced one of the lowest excess death rates of any city in the U.S. during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic
in 1919, thanks to Health Commissioner Dr. Max C. Starkloff’s strong leadership in the influenza epidemic, St. Louis…
Los Angeles experienced a lower epidemic death rate than many other American cities: 494 deaths per 100,000 people
By the end of the 1918 influenza epidemic, Los Angeles experienced a lower epidemic death rate than many…
Baltimore had 4,125 known deaths from the influenza pandemic
At the end of 1918, Baltimore had a total of almost 24,000 reported cases of influenza and 4,125…
Dallas lost a disputed number of lives during the influenza pandemic
By the end of 1918, Dallas had lost a disputed number of lives to infleunza, between 250 and…