In Boone and Winnebago counties in northern Illinois, hospitals had no neds for the stricken because of the fast rising demand so victims ended up roaming the streets seeking help and shelter.
The virus was not identified at first because these counties were recovering from a massive outbreak of scarlet fever in 1917.
Many children died from this contagious fever and a ban was put on school gatherings, interschool athletic contests and school activities. The primary scarlet fever cases struck from January to April of 11917, but cases were still being reported as late as December of that year. Local schools were closed on and off at varying times throughout the year as cases flared up.
--Cooter
No comments:
Post a Comment