Pages tagged with: influenza

After four terrible years the First World War finally came to a close with the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918. Parades were held throughout the country, though the spread of the influenza pandemic and a general war weariness dampened celebrations at home and abroad

Just over ninety years ago, in November 1918, New Zealand was in the grip of its worst-ever disease outbreak. A lethal influenza pandemic killed more than 8600 people in two months. No other event has claimed so many New Zealand lives in such a short time.

When war broke out in Europe in August 1914, Britain asked New Zealand to seize German Samoa as a 'great and urgent Imperial service'.

Some facts and stats about New Zealand in the year of the First World War armistice

Many people believed that the second wave of the 1918 influenza pandemic arrived in New Zealand in the form of ‘a deadly new virus’ on board the RMS Niagara.

Over a single week, prominent businessman and community figure O. F. Nelson had lost his mother, one of his two sisters, his only brother, and daughter-in-law. S. H. Meredith lost seven close relatives

Rather than accept responsibility for the influenza pandemic, New Zealand officials praised the efforts of their personnel in the face of adversity

Margaret Cruickshank, New Zealand's first registered woman doctor, pictured at her graduation from University of Otago Medical School, circa 1897.

Margaret Cruickshank was the first woman to be registered as a doctor in New Zealand. She worked tirelessly during the 1918 influenza pandemic but eventually caught the disease herself and died on 28 November 1918.

A pair of First World War leather riding boots belonging to Captain Richard (Dick) Erroll Wardell Riddiford OBE MC.

Dr Cruikshank was the first woman doctor to practise in New Zealand and served in Waimate from 1896 to 1918. She died during the 1918 influenza pandemic and a memorial statue was unveiled in 1923.

This notice in the New Zealand Gazette gave special powers to all District Health Officers to close public gathering places that might cause the spread of influenza.

Approximately 8500 people, one-fifth of the population of Western Samoa, died during the influenza pandemic.

Emergency ambulances alongside the Wellington Town Hall during the 1918 influenza pandemic.

The devastating effect of the influenza pandemic on men in military camps.

22 people died from influenza at Dunedin's Seacliff psychiatric hospital during the 1918 pandemic.

Nightcaps in Southland suffered one if the highest death rates in the country during the 1918 influenza pandemic – 45.9 per 1000 people died.

People and vehicles of the Emergency Motorcycle Corps. Taken in Christchurch during the 1918 influenza pandemic

The New Plymouth Public Health Committee instructions to volunteer nurses or family attendants dealing with influenza, probably issued during the 1918 pandemic.

Robert Makgill was to play an important role during the 1918 influenza pandemic and its aftermath,

Robert Makgill was a key figure in the development of New Zealand's public health system. He was one of the country's first district health officers and was to play a crucial role during the devastating 1918 influenza pandemic and its aftermath.

Armistice Day procession along Mawhera Quay, Greymouth, 12 November 1918.

Crowd gathered in Cathedral Square, Christchurch after the Armistice procession on 12 November 1918.

A woman describes the importance of the work of nurses and of the Red Cross in training them.

As adults fell to influenza, children were called upon to help with deliveries and other chores.

Many children were made orphans by the pandemic. For others it was just an extended holiday from school.

One man tells of the terrible situations his family faced during the pandemic.

The effects of influenza sent some people 'raving mad'.

All sorts of remedies were tried to cure victims of the pandemic. Many were of little use.

The sound of ambulances carrying the dead and dying was constant during the worst of the pandemic.

Those suffering from influenza had little interest in celebrating the end of the First World War.

When victims of influenza died, their bodies turned black as if they had the plague.

Margaret Cruickshank became the first woman to be registered as a doctor in New Zealand. She practised in Waimate until her death during the 1918 influenza epidemic.

In what looks more like a cowshed than a medical facility, Christchurch citizens line up in an inhalation chamber for a dose of zinc sulphate. Like many supposed cures for the flu, it probably did more harm than good.

This carved wooden Maori cenotaph was erected at Te Koura marae in memory of those who died in the 1918 influenza pandemic.

An influenza medicine depot in Christchurch for poor people

The Union Steam Ship Company's trans-Pacific liner Niagara in Auckland. Many people believed a deadly new influenza virus came to New Zealand aboard the Royal Mail liner Niagara, which arrived in Auckland from Vancouver and San Francisco on 12 October 1918.

Death rates in South Island towns and counties from the influenza pandemic

Death rates from the 1918 influenza pandemic for towns and counties in the North Island

The total number of deaths attributable to influenza is estimated to have reached 8500, or 22% of the Samoan population