The "Spanish Flu" in Rossland
Essays, Museum Research Rossland Museum Essays, Museum Research Rossland Museum

The "Spanish Flu" in Rossland

With Germany’s surrender to the Allied Powers, World War I finally ended on November 11, 1918, but the flu was just getting going in Rossland. From late October 1918 until February of 1919, nearly everyone got the flu. Almost 50 people died in five weeks - five weeks of absolute hell. Those that could continued to help, just as Rosslanders always do. From October 25 until the end of November, 47 people died. The last three people died in January and February. The majority of victims who were in their prime, between 20-35 years of age. Everyone who had it either recovered completely, experienced cognitive, respiratory effects or died, but ultimately herd immunity was achieved probably in February 1919 when the virus appears to have dissipated.

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Quarantine and Isolation in Early Rossland
Essays Rossland Museum Essays Rossland Museum

Quarantine and Isolation in Early Rossland

Caught up in the restrictions imposed in the attempt to control the covid-19 pandemic, it is interesting to look back at Rossland’s first attempt to contain an epidemic imported from abroad - in this case, a smallpox epidemic in 1900. The parallels with today are striking.

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