Lesson Learned from a forgotten Pandemic

Søren K. Poder, Aarhus City Archives

• 5-15% of the entire population in the developed world are affected by respiratory tract infections.

• Between three and five million are severe cases

of illness, usually severe pneumonia

• 250.000 and 500.000 cases are lethal.

• In industrialized countries, most deaths currently are associated with influenza among the elderly over 65 years of age.

• In the USA alone it is estimated that the cost of

seasonal influenza epidemics recent to the economy at US$ 71-167 billion per year.

• But what would happen in case of a world wide

pandemic?

• Born in Vordingborg, Jan. 27. 1887• Married and lived in Horsens• Died in Odense 1918

Aurelia Marie Claudia Nielsen† 7. november 1918

Connected

Jan Feb mar apr maj jun jul aug sep okt nov dec jan feb mar apr maj jun jul aug sep okt nov dec0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

number Infected pr district, 1918 - 1919 København By

Københavns A, By

Roskilde By

Frederiksborg By

Holbæk By

Sorø By

Præstø By

Lolland-Falster By

Svendborg By

Odense By

Assens By

Vejle By

Skanderborg By

Aarhus By

Randers By

Aalborg By

Hjørring By

Thisted By

Viborg By

Ringkøbing By

Ribe By

Bornholm By

Total

Inci

dens

“Anti Spanish”

“Anti Spanish” (remedy against Spanish influenza)As a remedy, there is curative or otherwise effective against disease

Acc. incidents, Roskilde county%

The Case: Holbæk 1918

1801 1834 1840 1845 1855 1860 1870 1880 1890 1901 1906 1911 1916 1921 1925 1930 1935 19400

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Increase in population, Holbæk 1801 - 1940

PopulationFluctuation (%)

Popu

latio

n

Procent

Jan Feb mar apr maj jun jul aug sep okt nov dec0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

Total number of Flu lncidens and total number of Death, Holbæk 1918

Døde Insidens

Fata

lity

Data – a lot it

Medical Incident Rapports, 1917 - 1919

Death certificate, 1917 - 1919

Death certificate 1917 - 1919

National Census 1916

Church records, 1910 - 1920

• Name : Gudrun Fransen Jensine Hansen• Not Married • Born: 25 Jan. 1900 in Holbæk• Occupation: Servant• Address: Holbæk Rolighedsvej 7• Date of death: 5. Nov. 1918 age: 18• Place of the death: Holbæk Rolighedsvej

7• Cause of Death: Infuenza pneumonia• disease last for: 4 days

Census, 1916

Parish Register

Cadastral Map

• Name• Enrollment number• Date of birth• Father's name

(mother's name if the person was born out of wedlock)• Place of birth and residence• Height• Any physical disabilities• How, when and where theconscription was completed. • Any exemption or enlistment• the year of death if the conscripts died before

enrollment in military service• Military Penalty (if any)

• www.denspanskesyge.dk• Danish Family Search (AU)• Basecrowd.dk• Danish Demographic Database

Daren C. Brabham

Thank you