On Oct. 5, 1918, Nashville’s health officer Dr. W.E. Hibbett announced there were between 10,000 and 15,000 influenza cases in the city.

In order to get a better sense of the geographic spread of the disease, asses the needs of the state’s counties, and allocate nurses and other resources more efficiently, the Executive Officer of the State Board of Health, Dr. Olin West, requested that city and county health officers report local conditions directly to his office.

He urged local officials to consider school closures if absenteeism rates warranted it, and added that children in schools should be monitored closely for any and all signs of illness.