{"id":14580,"date":"2023-04-11T14:38:20","date_gmt":"2023-04-11T21:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/?p=14580"},"modified":"2025-06-26T00:14:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T07:14:03","slug":"1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver","title":{"rendered":"1918: Spanish Flu hits Vancouver"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In October 1918, Vancouver faced the first wave of the Spanish flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this article, we will tell you how the city coped with the terrible epidemic. Learn more at <a href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\">ivancouver<\/a>. (Source: <a href=\"http:\/\/vancouverandus.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vancouverandus.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a344364952c6\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a344364952c6\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver\/#Shortage_of_medical_workers\" >Shortage of medical workers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver\/#Three_waves_of_the_epidemic\" >Three waves of the epidemic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver\/#High_mortality\" >High mortality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver\/#Basic_rules\" >Basic rules<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver\/#Recommendations\" >Recommendations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver\/#Quarantine_measures\" >Quarantine measures<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver\/#Uncancelled_event\" >Uncancelled event<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver\/#Normal_operation_of_schools\" >Normal operation of schools<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver\/#Scarce_thing\" >Scarce thing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver\/#Masks\" >Masks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/eternal-14580-1918-spanish-flu-hits-vancouver\/#Unusual_population_reaction\" >Unusual population reaction<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Shortage_of_medical_workers\"><\/span>Shortage of medical workers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many medical workers, both doctors and nurses, had not yet returned from European countries, where they had gone to serve during World War I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At that time, there were only 200 nurses in Vancouver. Many of them fell ill too, while others had to care for their loved ones who got infected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thus, hospitals were catastrophically short of medical workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Three_waves_of_the_epidemic\"><\/span>Three waves of the epidemic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While some cities survived only one wave of the Spanish flu, Vancouver faced three waves in October 1918, January and March 1919.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"High_mortality\"><\/span>High mortality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vancouver\u2019s population was about 100,000 at the time. 30,000 people were infected and 900 died. The majority were between 20 and 40 years old and some of them were pregnant women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vancouver was the city with the highest mortality rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thus, 55,000 people died from the Spanish flu in the whole of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the way, almost the same number of Canadians, 60,000, were killed in World War I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Basic_rules\"><\/span>Basic rules<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Vancouver became the epicentre of the Spanish flu, the city established three rules \u2014 clean mouth, clean skin and clean clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, the main focus was on cleanliness instead of stopping the spread of the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recommendations\"><\/span>Recommendations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The government recommended the local population cover their mouths when coughing, air their homes, keep their feet dry and wear clothes that cover their necks. As for children, it was recommended to use individual pacifiers. It was also advised to kill flies because they could spread the infection. It was also necessary to monitor the cleanliness of school desks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quarantine_measures\"><\/span>Quarantine measures<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Almost the entire population of Vancouver was quarantined and local residents had signs on their doors informing about infected people inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Uncancelled_event\"><\/span>Uncancelled event<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the fact that all mass events were banned, the pandemic couldn\u2019t cancel the march celebrating the end of the war and the return of Canadian soldiers from the front. Thus, the victory managed to overshadow the horror caused by the Spanish flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Normal_operation_of_schools\"><\/span>Normal operation of schools<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interestingly, despite quarantine measures and high mortality rates, Vancouver schools operated as usual. After all, each school had doctors and nurses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, all other institutions were closed, with the exception of enterprises. Churches had to hold services right on the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Scarce_thing\"><\/span>Scarce thing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time, a truly scarce thing became ordinary camphor. It was a very popular remedy for coughs. However, people decided that it could also be used to treat the flu. Therefore, within one week, the cost of a pound of camphor increased from 40 cents to $6.5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Masks\"><\/span>Masks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ivancouver.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/11\/17085234\/img_6373f74b259ee.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Seattle, Saskatchewan and Alberta introduced a strict mask regime, Vancouver decided to limit itself to recommendations for wearing masks. Therefore, almost nobody in the city wore masks. The only exception was the Japanese who followed doctors\u2019 recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unusual_population_reaction\"><\/span>Unusual population reaction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interestingly, when Vancouver was the epicentre of the Spanish flu spread, there was no panic in the city at all. Archival photos prove that the city had a completely normal appearance at that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most likely, people treated the epidemic as another sad element of the four-year war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Photo source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wikipedia.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In October 1918, Vancouver faced the first wave of the Spanish flu. In this article, we will tell you how the city coped with the terrible epidemic. Learn more at ivancouver. (Source: vancouverandus.com) Shortage of medical workers Many medical workers, both doctors and nurses, had not yet returned from European countries, where they had gone [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":322,"featured_media":13203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4817],"tags":[6870,6873,6872,6881,6871,6879,6882,6878,6869,6884,6876,6874,6883,6875,6880],"motype":[4825],"moformat":[6796],"moimportance":[35],"class_list":["post-14580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-healthy","tag-1918-flu-pandemic","tag-canadian-pandemic-history","tag-healthcare-system-1918","tag-historic-pandemics","tag-influenza-outbreak-vancouver","tag-influenza-prevention-1918","tag-spanish-flu-vancouver-1918","tag-vancouver-history-pandemics","tag-vancouver-pandemic-history","tag-vancouver-quarantine-measures","motype-eternal","moformat-c-l","moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/322"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14580"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16801,"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14580\/revisions\/16801"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14580"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=14580"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=14580"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivancouver.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=14580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}