THE SPANISH FLU AND OTHER CAUSES OF DEATH IN VARAŽDIN FROM 1918 TO 1920
THE SPANISH FLU AND OTHER CAUSES OF DEATH IN VARAŽDIN FROM 1918 TO 1920

Summary/Abstract: In this scientific paper the authors analyse the impact of the Spanish flu on the number of deaths in Varaždin from 1918 to 1920 as well as other causes of death in the period concerned. The research is based on the following registries of deaths: Občeniti grobovi (28. VI. 1917.-31. III. 1919.) [Eng. General graves (28/VI/1917-31/III/1919)], Knjiga mrtvaca općeniti grobovi III (1879) 1903 – 1918 [Eng. Book of the dead – general graves III (1879) 1903 – 1918] and Knjiga mrtvacah obiteljskih grobnica (1902-1919) [Eng. Book of the dead – family tombs (1902-1919)] which are kept in the State Archives in Varaždin. The research also included the Grobni očevidnik (1919-1939.) [Eng. Cemetery records (1919-1939)], kept in the municipal company Parkovi d.d. The books comprise information on all deceased people buried in the Varaždin cemetery in the aforementioned three-year period. Beside their identity, profession, age, place of birth, marital status, and time of burial, the cause of death was also recorded. The analysis included the three-year period – from the beginning of 1918 until the end of 1920, i.e. the period when the Spanish flu appeared and disappeared from Varaždin. In order to investigate all causes of deaths in the period concerned, the authors processed 1,435 separate entries. The research results showed that 121 people died from flu in Varaždin (mostly in 1918 – 114 people, while the number of the dead reached the peak in October). In the years that followed the number of the people who died from flu decreased and the infection vanished – four people died in 1919 and three in 1920.

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