Asian Flu : a strong reminder of the Spanish Grippe

par Maurice Langlois

Nowadays, one cannot read the newspapers, listen to the radio or watch television without being reminded of the threat of a pandemic of Asian (bird) flu. Also, one cannot avoid remembering the deadly pandemic of 1918-1919, called the Spanish Grippe. The latter was a worldwide disaster and made 20-40 million casualties worldwide, which is more deaths than occured as a direct result of the war itself.

The Word Spanish was wrongly used since the pandemic did not originate in Spain, but in other parts of Europe : Germany, Russia and France. However, it was first declared publicly by Spain. The influenza first entered Canada in June of 1918, most likely by ships carrying soldiers coming back home after serving on the battlefields, It made its way slowly in Quebec and arrived in the Eastern Townships, via Victoriaville, on September 15th 1918. This date marks the official beginning of the pandemic in Quebec. By September 25th , over 400 cases were reported in Sherbrooke and on the 28th , it had spread to the whole Eastern Townships.

Although relatively spared, Magog was affected by the epidemic. The government health authorities sent out strong recommendations such as : avoiding crowds and all public gatherings; closing bars, bowling alleys, theatres, schools, etc. It was also highly recommended to close churches. The protestant community quickly abided by this last recommendation and protestant temples were closed on the 5th of October. Catholic authorities in the Sherbrooke diocese hesitated and did not close their churches, until the 13th, when they were ordered by the Central Board of Hygiene to comply. On that same day, J.O. Donigan, a staunch catholic, wrote in the family bible : « Today, for the first time in our recollection, we have had no mass at the church. This is on account of an epidemic of Spanish Grippe which is worldwide just now and many deaths are reported from all parts ». Churches remained closed until the 10th of November, the day before the end of WWII.

With a population of about 5,000, Magog had only four physicians to care for the sick : George A. Bowen, E.-C. Cabana, I.A. Guertin and John West. Two drugstores were in operation : Dr. Béique’s (he had passed away) and Dr. West’s Rexall pharmacy. . There was no hospital in Magog and the scarce health resources were overwhelmed. The Sisters at « La Crèche » were allowed to convert classrooms and the recreation room into a « makeshift hospital » to admit the most afflicted.

On October 3rd, Dr. Cabana submitted to the Town council a series of recommendations to be publicly posted : the sick were to stay at home and the homes involved were « out of bounds ». Public meetings and gatherings were not to be held. Suggestions for elementary hygienic precautions were also made.

The month of October was by far the most devastating. Many families lost 2 or more members and bodies were quickly buried without passing through the church for a religious ceremony, in order to limit spreading of the deadly virus. Statistics made public by the Provincial Health Board, indicated that in Magog, for the month of October only, there were 45 deaths, of which 43 involved the catholic parish of St. Patrick. Whether this eight-day delay of the catholic authorities to react be held responsible for this excess of deaths, remains a possibility.

In November, the pandemic loses momentum and measures taken by the municipal authorities and health professionals are showing results : churches, schools and other public institutions reopen and life in the community returns to normal. There will be new cases of influenza and a few additional deaths but the pandemic is really over.

Although the threat of a new pandemic seems real, one must not panic. First of all, we are not at war. Living standards have considerably improved since 1918 : there is less poverty and promiscuity; nutrition is much better and the population is generally healthier. The cause of the Asian flu is known, wheras the agent responsible for the Spanish flu was not. Medication to alleviate the disease are available and research for a vaccine is progressing. The World Health Organization and other health agencies are on the alert and scientists are monitoring the influenza strain that has infected large poultry populations and a limited number of humans in some countries. No human to human transmission has yet been reported.

At this point in time, what should one do to prepare for an influenza pandemic?

Here are the latest recoomendations :

1- Wash your hands regularly with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after eating, after going to the bathroom, after coughing and sneezing and after touching surfaces that have been contaminated.
2- Use a tissue, or raise your arm up to your face to cough or sneeze into your sleeve to avoid spreading the virus through infected droplets or contaminating your hands with the virus.
3- Throw away used tissues promptly.
4- Frequently clean and disinfect household shared surfaces such as doorknobs light switches, telephones, etc., that have been contaminated.
5- Encourage all members of your household, especially children, to follow these practices.
6- If you do get the flu, even the seasonal variety, stay at home and rest until you feel better.

Sources :
- Rioux, Denise. « La Grippe espagnole à Sherbrooke et dans les Cantons-de-l’Est », 1993.
- La Tribune, 1918/10/12, 1918/10/18, 1918/10/19, 1918/11/7.
- Public Health Agency of Canada.

Maurice Langlois
Magog Historical Society
Published in The Townships Outlet, June 2006

21 mai 2009

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