Historical and Epidemiological Analysis of the Pandemic Flu of 1918-1919 in Boyaca a Century Later

Abstract

Introduction: The flu of 1918-1919 caused the highest mortality in the history of pandemics; there is an estimate that 50 million people died. We conducted a historical-epidemiological study from documentary sources, contrasted with a statistical analysis of 142,963 deaths recorded in the church books of 94 municipalities of Boyaca and the census of the years 1912, 1918 and 1928. Developing: From the historical records consulted, we reconstructed the social health reality of Boyaca, as well as the chronological development of the pandemic. Boyaca knew the flu before the pandemic (1918-1919). During it, the church books recorded 20,102 deaths; the flu was responsible for 3,305. Of those cases, 80.9 % occurred in the last three months of 1918; the most affected population were children of less than four years of age. Conclusions: After the pandemic, the flu became endemic in Boyaca. In the pandemic period, the average mortality rate in municipalities located above 2000 masl was three times higher than those below this height. The conditions of poverty and overcrowding accentuated the lethality of the pandemic; the hygiene directives to face them were inefficient. The relief and the Patriotic Health Board were the only ones that carried out effective actions.