Flu Epidemic Hits Alton Catholic Orphanage

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In 1926, a flu epidemic struck the Catholic orphanage in Alton, Illinois, where 68 of the 300 children were ill. The outbreak was not limited to the orphanage, as doctors across the city were overwhelmed with flu, scarlet fever, and measles cases, leading to school closures and staffing shortages in public services.

Why it matters

The 1926 flu epidemic in Alton highlights the ongoing public health challenges communities faced in the years following the devastating 1918 influenza pandemic. The outbreak's impact on schools, churches, and essential services underscores the far-reaching consequences of infectious disease outbreaks in the early 20th century.

The details

At the Catholic orphanage, 68 of the 300 children were sick with the flu, which Dr. G. Taphorn said they recovered from in 3-4 days. Doctors in Alton were busier than they had been since the 1918 pandemic, also treating outbreaks of scarlet fever and measles. Pneumonia was a serious concern, and the local health department recorded several deaths from these illnesses. Schools were hit hard, with 191 students absent from one school and nearly 20 teachers out sick. Essential services like the post office also saw high absenteeism, requiring the hiring of temporary workers.

• In the first 16 days of March 1926, there were 4 deaths from pneumonia, 1 from scarlet fever, and 1 from the flu.
• On March 15, 1926, the Alton Evening Telegraph reported the flu was 'prostrating' people but not causing an unusual amount of business for undertakers.