Pandemic to be featured topic of historical society program

Herald and News - 5/22/2018

What: Klamath County Historical Society program on the influenza pandemic of 1918-20

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: Klamath County Museum meeting room

Cost: Free

A worldwide influenza pandemic that claimed dozens of lives in Klamath and Lake counties a century ago will be the subject of a program that will be presented Thursday, May 24, at the monthly meeting of the Klamath County Historical Society, according to a news release.

The program begins at 7 p.m. in the back meeting room of the Klamath County Museum, 1451 Main St.

There is no cost to attend.

“Local officials took strong measures to stop the spread of the flu during the pandemic that occurred from 1918 to 1920,” said museum manager Todd Kepple, who will present the program. “Many public places were closed for weeks, but the loss of life was still startling.”

An emergency hospital was established to isolate patients, and a local newspaper carried a daily report listing the names and addresses of people infected by the virus. A group of local women formed a committee to look after victims who had no relatives healthy enough to provide care.

Estimates of worldwide deaths from the 1918 influenza pandemic range from 20 million to 50 million people, or more than 2 percent of the entire human population. The death toll was estimated at more than 3,500 in Oregon alone, and at 500,000 across the United States.

A building designed to serve as the county courthouse was used as a temporary isolation hospital in 1920, as the pandemic was winding down.

For more information contact Historical Society President Dave Taylor at 541-273-0953.

A building constructed as a county courthouse in Klamath Falls saw temporary service as an influenza hospital in 1920. A program on influenza epidemics from a century ago will be presented Thursday at the Klamath County Museum.

Klamath County Museum photo