- © 2005 CMA Media Inc. or its licensors
Figure. The Spanish Influenza in Montréal. From an article by S. Boucher, director of the city's Department of Health, in the December 1918 issue of CMAJ. The graph shows the peak in the number of deaths from influenza reported daily in Montréal during October and the first week of November. The cumulative number of deaths reported since the disease appeared in Montréal at the end of September was 3028. “From the beginning,” Boucher reported, “the Department of Health took energetic means of combating the disease.” By Oct. 8, with a total of 144 deaths reported, the Board of Health agreed on “the immediate closing of all places of public meeting, such as schools, theatres, dance halls, moving picture houses, concert halls, etc.” Soldiers were confined to barracks. On Oct. 10, a new Board of Health consisting of physicians replaced the existing lay board. Further infection control measures were ordered, including the suspension of all church services. For the full article, see www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/172/8/965/DC1. — CMAJ