AHDS explores the history of influenza
The recent concerns about the possibility of a 'Bird Flu' pandemic has led to an unprecedented level of interest in a resource held by the History branch of the Arts and Humanities Data Service. The resource looks at statistics relating to the 1918-1919 Influenza Pandemic Mortality in England and Wales, commonly referred to as the Spanish Flu Pandemic, and it provides a useful reference point for those researching the effects of potent influenza viruses.
Says Alastair Dunning, AHDS Communications Manager: "The recent interest in the resource shows how demand for historical studies can fluctuate according to a variety of circumstances. It is the job of digital archive services such as the AHDS to maintain and disseminate such resources and to be able to respond to increased demand from users."
The resource was developed by Niall Johnson as part of his PhD project in the Department of Geography, University of Cambridge (1996–2001), and offers weekly influenza mortality (number of deaths and crude death rate) in the larger administrative areas of England and Wales for the duration of the 1918–19 influenza pandemic. The data is complete for the London boroughs and the County boroughs throughout England and Wales. The other units included are by-and-large those with a population greater than 20,000, mostly metropolitan boroughs and urban districts. Also included are ‘Remainder of’ county figures for all other units. Those administrative counties that had no individual centres selected have an entire county value.
1918-1919 Influenza Pandemic Mortality in England and Wales can be downloaded directly from the AHDS cross-search catalogue
http://www.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/collection.htm?uri=hist-4350-1
Registration and an indication of data usage is required.