Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2014
Abstract
Scarce information about the epidemiology of historical influenza pandemics in South America prevents complete understanding of pandemic patterns throughout the continent and across different climatic zones. To fill gaps with regard to spatiotemporal patterns of deaths associated with the 1918 influenza pandemic in Chile, we reviewed archival records. We found evidence that multiple pandemic waves at various times of the year and of varying intensities occurred during 1918–1921 and that influenza-related excess deaths peaked during July–August 1919. Pandemic-associated mortality rates were elevated for all age groups, including for adults >50 years of age; elevation from baseline was highest for young adults. Overall, the rate of excess deaths from the pandemic was estimated at 0.94% in Chile, similar to rates reported elsewhere in Latin America, but rates varied ≈10-fold across provinces. Patterns of death during the pandemic were affected by variation in host-specific susceptibility, population density, baseline death rate, and climate.
Recommended Citation
Chowell G, Simonsen L, Flores J, Miller MA, Viboud C. Death patterns during the 1918 influenza pandemic in Chile. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Nov. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2011.130632
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Comments
Originally published in:
Chowell G, Simonsen L, Flores J, Miller MA, Viboud C. Death patterns during the 1918 influenza pandemic in Chile. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Nov. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2011.130632