Impact of 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic on Mortality Rates in Savannah, GA

The Spanish Influenza pandemic struck the United States in waves from September 1918 through March 1919. This study investigates the impact of the Spanish Influenza on mortality rates in Savannah, Georgia. Primary death records from the Chatham County Health Department were examined and analyzed for the years of 1917, 1918, and 1919. Historical mortality rates for the Savannah area were compared to those for other parts of the United States and world, including New York City, Paris, London, and Berlin. These data will inform Savannah public health officials about historical trends of local communicable disease mortality compared to other parts of the world, having the potential to serve as a reference when channeling future resources into epidemic prevention in Savannah