Spanish Flu

[iwccc]

With the current pandemic of Covid 19 it got me thinking about a relative (Margaret Copland b. 1894 in Govan) who died in 1919 (aged 24years) Her death certificate says the cause was 'influenza c.pneumonia'.  Can some medical person tell me - would that be consistent with Spanish flu or would it be just influenza/pneumonia?  Does anyone know anything of the dates and affect that Spanish flue had on the population of Govan, Glasow in 1919?  thank you

[KGarrad]

In Scotland, the Spanish flu came in 3 waves:
First, in early summer 1918, attacking the very young, the elderly and the sick.
Second in autumn 1918; half the deaths were 20-40 year olds.
Lastly, late winter in early 1919.

ScotlandsPeople says: In the early stages of the epidemic, deaths were often attributed to ‘PUO’ (a pyrexia of unknown origin) but later deaths were recorded as ‘Spanish Flu’ or, more commonly, ‘influenza.’

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/article/our-records-spanish-influenza

See also:
https://www.edinburghs-war.ed.ac.uk/WestLothian/Home-Front/Spanish-Flu

[Forfarian]

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, when fluid gets into the air sacs and makes breathing difficult. Influenza is one of many diseases that can cause pneumonia.

Most people who die 'of flu/influenza' actually die because the infection develops into pneumonia. So 'influenza c pneumonia' is more accurate/specific than just 'influenza' or 'pneumonia' on its own.

The c could be an abbreviation for 'complication' or 'complicated by' or it might be the abbreviation for the Latin word meaning 'with'.

As an aside, this is likely to be why the reports of deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic talk about the number of people dying with Covid-19 rather than the number of people dying of Covid-19.

[iwccc]

Thanks KGarrad for the post.  Very helpful

[iwccc]

Thank you Forfarian, I guess there is no way now of saying for sure that she died ofSpanish Flu.  By all accounts it appears most likely what with the cause of death and the time frame.  Thanks for your very helpful post.