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THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC |
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THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC |
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But in 1918, New Zealand was struck by an influenza epidemic which was so sever that it caused the deaths of thousands of people. On November 11th, 1918, the First World War ended. It was at this time that the epidemic was at its worst. It is believed that the soldiers may have brought the virus back when they returned from fighting in the trenches of France. The disease seemed to have begun in Europe and spread to other parts of the world, even reaching isolate Pacific Islands. Millions of people died because of it.
Many people claimed that the disease was brought to New Zealand on board the Niagra, which arrived in Auckland on October the 12th, 1918. The Prime Minister, William Massey and the Minister of Finance, Joseph Ward, were passengers on this ship. There were many serious cases of influenza on board. One of the crew had already died, and many passengers were seriously ill. It was felt that if the ship had been placed in quarantine, preventing flu carriers from mixing with other people, the spread of the disease might have been avoided. However, there were already a number of serious cases of flue in Auckland. The virus had spread so widely that it surely would have reached New Zealand, sooner or later. All the same, after the arrival of the Niagra the disease seemed to spread quickly in Auckland and by November, outbreaks were occurring in other parts of the country. Each week the number of deaths grew.
It was no ordinary influenza. The fever and pains were sever and people collapsed in the streets or at work. But it was the effect on the lungs, often leading to pneumonia, that caused most of the deaths. Those infected found breathing very difficult. Often there was not enough oxygen reaching their blood vessels. Because of this the skin of some of the victims turned a purply black colour after they died. Many people called it the 'black plague' because of this, but it was not the bubonic plague or Black Death that had ravaged Europe hundreds of years ago. Even so, people were both fearful and anxious.
Gradually, the whole community became affected in some way or other: trams stopped running because so many drivers were ill; offices, shops, and factories closed because many people were too sick to work; children were sent home from school in an attempt to prevent the disease from spreading; and many people stayed at home to avoid becoming infected. The streets seemed strangely deserted.
The medical services found it very difficult to cope with the crisis. Some doctors and nurses were still overseas at the war. Others caught the virus themselves and were ill for weeks. Long queues formed outside doctors' houses, while others begged them to visit sick relatives. Medical supplies were very short and it was even difficult to buy oranges and lemons.
The community fought back as best it could. Many doctors and nurses worked long hours to try to treat as many patients as possible. Emergency hospitals and medical posts were set up in schools or church halls.
Some medical posts provided inhalation chambers, where people breathed in fumes or vapors from tubes attached to cylinders which were supposed to help clear the lungs. It was also believed that alcoholic drinks, such as stout and whiskey, would help lower the temperature and keep up the patient's strength. But there was no simple cure; rest and careful attention was the best treatment.
Groups of voluntary helpers were formed to visit the sick. The Red Cross, the St John's Ambulance and even the Boy Scouts did wonderful work. Teams of drivers were formed to help transport the medical volunteers to the homes of those who were ill and to take the very serious cases to the hospitals and medical centres.
The medical teams saw some very sad sights. In some houses they found people were already dead; they found others were lying in bed, too ill to help themselves. They saw cases where young children were trying to look after sick parents. They discovered people living in very poor conditions, with no one to care for them. They sent the most serious cases to the medical centres and did what the could for the others.
The situation was so bad that it was difficult to arrange proper burial services for the dead. Many undertakers and grave diggers were also ill, and it was impossible for them to keep up with the numbers. Coffins were made out of spare timber, and voluntary grave diggers were employed.
When the Great War ended, many people went out into the streets to take part in the Armistice Day celebrations or to watch the parades, and this led to further spread of the disease.
In a few short weeks the flu caused more than a quarter of the number of deaths than had been lost in four years of war. The military camps were especially hard hit, probably because of the crowded conditions. People of all ages were affected. In some cases whole families died, and many children became orphans.
No cure was found for the disease, but in December its effects began to lessen. The number of reported cases reduced, and many of those who were affected began to recover. By Christmas things were almost back to normal.
The influenza epidemic of 1918 resulted in the greatest loss of life of all the disasters that have struck New Zealand. It was caused not by violence of nature, as evidenced in earthquakes, floods and storms, but my microscopic organisms which spread suffering and death swiftly and silently.