THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC AT CAMP DIX, N. J.

Abstract

The influenza epidemic began at Camp Dix, [ill] 15, and ended, October 6. The number of daily admissions increased rapidly and reached the maximum, September 26, on which day 806 patients were received, making a total of 4,025 in the hospital on that date. The number then decreased daily, reaching the normal average of eighty admissions, October 7. During the twenty-two days of the epidemic, 6,500 patients were cared for. Approximately 6,000 of these men had influenza. There have been 800 deaths due to the epidemic. Four of our nurses and one dietitian died during the epidemic, contracting the disease while on duty. One medical officer was taken ill while on leave and died from bronchopneumonia a few days later at the Massachusetts General Hospital. When the epidemic began to subside and the hospital discharges to increase, wards were consolidated as rapidly as possible. The emptied wards were renovated and disinfected