The Spanish Flu Hits Illinois in 1918-- Part 1: Railroad Hub Contributes in Chicago

From the February 12, 2006, Flu Tackers"The Great Pandemic of 1918:  State By State."

The Great Pandemic of 1918 also touched Illinois.

Chicago was then the country's second largest city and the country's largest rail hub.  As a consequence, the disease hit the city quickly.  Before it hit, overconfident health department people proclaimed:  "We have the Spanish influenza  situation well in hand now."

Then the disease came.

Influenza was reported in Chicago on September 27th.  Within two weeks, it was epidemic throughout the state.  Cities like Kankakee and Rockford were also hard hit as were rural areas and coal-mining spots throughout the state.

But, Chicago saw the worst impacts.  While the pandemic raged to its peak, the city saw an average of 12,000 new cases each week.  More than 2,100 Chicagoans died during the second week of October.  More than 2,300 died in the third week.

--Cooter