By Nov. 20, 1918, over 18,000 influenza cases had been reported to Detroit’s Department of Health, and almost 1,700 had died.

Of these, 1,688 died from influenza or its complications. Another 10,920 cases came in January and February of 1919, when the disease made a significant comeback and physicians once again began reporting cases. Cases resurged again in early 1919 before dissipating at last.