1918 Flu St Louis

About 1918 Flu St Louis

St Louis is frequently cited as an example of early pandemic response. When the first Spanish Flu cases appeared in early October 1918, Health Commissioner Max Starkloff acted within 2 days, closing schools, churches, theaters, and banning public gatherings. The citys excess death rate was roughly half that of Philadelphia, and its peak weekly death rate was far lower. Researchers have attributed much of the difference to the timing of interventions. St Louis maintained restrictions for several weeks. When restrictions were lifted in mid November, a smaller second wave occurred but was managed with renewed measures. The St Louis versus Philadelphia comparison remains one of the most cited examples in public health, cited extensively during COVID 19 in discussions of early social distancing. Studies of 1918 have been used to argue that the timing of interventions can matter as much as their stringency. The comparison influenced pandemic planning before and during 2020.