The health and demographic impacts of the Russian flu pandemic in Switzerland
Author Information
Author(s): Jocelyne Suter, Isabelle Devos, Katarina L. Matthes, Kaspar Staub
Primary Institution: Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich
Hypothesis
Our study aims to enhance future pandemic preparedness by leveraging insights from historical pandemics.
Conclusion
The Russian flu pandemic had a significant impact on mortality and morbidity in Switzerland, with regional variations and no evidence of cross-protection between outbreaks.
Supporting Evidence
- About 61% of the population in Switzerland fell ill with the flu between December 1889 and April 1890.
- In January 1890, around 3400 more deaths from all causes were recorded than expected.
- A total of 7200 deaths from and due to the flu were recorded between 1889 and 1894.
- Excess mortality rates were highest in January 1890, with significant increases in various Swiss cities.
- Deaths from other conditions like tuberculosis and heart disease also increased during the pandemic.
Takeaway
A lot of people in Switzerland got sick during the Russian flu in 1889, and many more died than usual, especially in January 1890.
Methodology
The study digitized and analyzed historical mortality and morbidity data from the Russian flu pandemic in Switzerland.
Potential Biases
Potential underreporting of flu cases due to lack of mandatory reporting before 1918.
Limitations
The study is based on aggregated data rather than individual-level data, limiting the precision of demographic assessments.
Participant Demographics
The majority of the Swiss population fell ill, with variations in illness rates across different regions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.009
Confidence Interval
95% CI 36.6 to 81.0
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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