The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-12-21
10000 CASES OF.
FLU, lO2 DEATHS,
RECORD IN FARGO.
DURING EPIDEMIC.
City Physicians Think
State Estimate of Fatal
tiles Too High
ONE PER CENT OF
THOSE I'LL DIE
Ration of Deaths Only -Four.
TO Each 1000 In.
habitants

There have been not less than 10,-
900 cases of Spanish influenza in
Fargo since October i, or since the
disease was made reportable.
City health department records
disclose 102 deaths. from influenza
and complications developing from
the disease in the period.
The actual number of deaths of
Fargo residents is fixed at about
one for each 100 cases, while thee
death ratio in proportion to the popu
lation of the city is approximately
four out of each 1000 inhabitants.
In 1917, the total number of deaths
of Fargo residents was ZIG, so that
the influenza epidemic alone has
been responsible in less than three
months for deaths numbering nearly
half as many as deaths reported from
all causes last year.
These figures are taken from the
lrecords of the city health department,
maintained under the direction of DIR
Paul Sorkness.
State Estimate Too High.
With these figures as basis for
Galculation, Fargo physicians dis
agree with DR.. G. J. McGurren, sec
retary of the North Dakota board of
health, who recently estimated that
there had been 5000 deaths in the
state in seven weeks from influenza
and complications therefrom.
THE government estimates, on the
basis of the figures it has compiled,
that there have been 100000 deaths in
the United States. That would be
at the ratio Of about four deaths for
each 1000 inhabitants, which is the
death rate we have experienced in
Fargo said DIR. Sorkness today.
100000 In State.
With the Fargo experience as a
basis for calculation, coupled with
the government estimates, physic-
sans estimate that there have been
not less than 100000 cases Of influ-
enza in North Dakota since October
/ and if the death rate in the rural
districts and small towns is in linel
with the death rates in other states
and the nation ais a. whole, the total
number of deaths in North Dakota Isl
placed at approximately 200, less
than half the number estimated
by the state health officers.
One Per Gent Die.
"The figures so far available show
that about one per cent of those Ill,
have died, while the estimate madel
by the state health officer of deaths
was nearly one per cent Of all the
people in the state" said one Eargol
physician who said he would rather
not have his name used. ut isn't
fair to assume that North Dakota's
death rate has been higher than else
where, because we have had much
the same condition here as in other
states. I believe that the Fargo fig-I
lIres are a pretty fair index to the
situation throuShout the state, and
that the rates of deaths will be muchl
closer to the Fargo rate, than to
the estimate of the state board ofI
health"
Only Nine New Cases.
Yesterday nine new cases Of tnIflu-
enza were reported in Fargo. This
week there has been u very distinct |
drop in the number of cases, the |
average new cases reported this week
being ten daily.
I'VE are making a very close check
of the situation" said DR.. Sorkness
this morning. eve call every phy- |
sician by telephone each day to in-
sure getting complete reports"
The health department records
show 3,341 cases actually reported inl
October, which was only about half
of all cases in the city. In NoyemberI
613 cases were reported, which Isl
placed at only about a fourth of all
cases in the city. In December, sincei
a thorough going check has been
made. the number of cases reported
to date is about 400.
Alarge number of Fargo people have
taken the anti-pneumonia vaccine,
furnished by the Minnesota uni-
Versity in cooperation with the
Mayo foundation.