POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Notes

The influenza pandemic was a highly contagious disease spread rapidly around the world by soldiers returning from the First World War. Because of its remoteness, authorities in Australia had some months to prepare and Commonwealth Quarantine monitored arrivals by ship from 17 October 1918, discovering the first infected ship the next day in Darwin. A national planning conference was held in Melbourne in November including state health ministers, the British Medical Association and government officials to plan a co-ordinated response. The Commonwealth Serum Laboratories established during the war produced 3 million free doses of an experimental vaccine. Despite these precautions, the first case appeared in Melbourne on 9 or 10 January 1919 and reached Sydney about two weeks later, being reported on 24 January and officially diagnosed on 27 January. More arrivals from Victoria soon after became ill. Free vaccination depots had been established and emergency hospital accommodation arranged. Special measures were taken such as establishing treatment centres and free inoculation stations as well as providing additional emergency hospital accommodation. Cases had to be notified, travel between Victoria and NSW was restricted, and nursing and medical assistance was provided to the homes of people afflicted. At the height of the epidemic, public gatherings were restricted and schools, churches, libraries, cinemas and theatres were closed. Masks had to be worn in public places, shops, offices and on public transport. An Influenza Administrative Committee (later called the Influenza Emergency Committee) was established by Cabinet to manage relief in the metropolitan area, assisted by the Red Cross Society and the ambulance services. The Committee administered the many depots set up across Sydney, managed by qualified medical and nursing staff assisted by a large number of volunteers who attended and supported the sick at home if they did not need transfer to hospital. Final year medical students were also called upon and teachers volunteered while their schools were closed. A Country Influenza Administrative Board oversaw arrangements carried out by local committees. There were two waves of the epidemic, each of about 10 weeks duration. The peak of the first wave occurred in April 1919 with numbers falling steadily thereafter until a second wave began which peaked towards the end of June. The exact number of cases is not known. However, the official government report estimates 36 percent of the Sydney population was affected (around 290,000 people) and that the mortality rate among those infected was 1.3 percent. The highest death rates across the state were in areas where the population was the most congested. Mortality rates were higher among males, especially those of working age, than females at least initially, with children the least affected. [The badge was lent to the National Museum of Australia for display in their 'Eternity' Gallery from April 2010 to October 2015] https://www.rahs.org.au/an-intimate-pandemic-the-community-impact-of-influenza-in-1919/ https://www.rahs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Research-guide-final-version.pdf (p.8) https://www.rahs.org.au/an-intimate-pandemic-the-community-impact-of-influenza-in-1919/ https://www.rahs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Research-guide-final-version.pdf (p.8) Report on the influenza epidemic in New South Wales 1919 http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/83132/20080410-1521/influenza_report_full_6-35.pdf https://www.rahs.org.au/an-intimate-pandemic-the-community-impact-of-influenza-in-1919/ https://www.rahs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Research-guide-final-version.pdf (p.8)