Influenza-Associated Mortality during the 1918-1919 Influenza Pandemic in Alaska and Labrador: A Comparison

Abstract

Influenza-Associated Mortality during the 1918-1919 Influenza Pandémie in Alaska and Labrador A ComparisonSome of the most severely affected communities in the world during the 1918-19 influenza pandemic were in Labrador and Alaska. Although these two regions are on the opposite ends of North America, a cultural continuum in the Inuit populations extends throughout the North American Arctic. Both regions contain other population groups, however, and because of these similarities and differences, a comparison of their experiences during the pandemic provides new insights into how culture and environment may influence patterns of spread of infectious disease. We describe here analyses of the patterns of influenza mortality in 97 Alaska communities and 37 Labrador communities. The Alaska communities are divided intoflve geographic regions corresponding to recognized cultural groups in the region; the Labrador communities are separated into three regions that vary in the degree of admixture between European and indigenous (primarily Inuit) groups. In both Alaska and Labrador mortality was substantially higher than the worldwide average of 2.5-5 percent. Average mortality ranged from less than 1 percent to 38 percent at the regional level in Alaska and from 1 percent to 75 percent at the regional level in Labrador with up to 90 percent mortality in some local communities in both Alaska and Labrador. A number of factors influencing this heterogeneous experience are discussed, including the impact of weather and geography ; attempts to protect communities by implementing quarantine policies; accessibility of health care; nutritional deflciencies; cultural factors, such as settlement patterns, seaSocial Science History

Mitochondrial diversity of Iñupiat people from the Alaskan North Slope provides evidence for the origins of the Paleo‐ and Neo‐Eskimo peoples

“…However, European contact may have affected the genetic structure of these populations in other ways, such as through male-mediated admixture (not detectable with our data set), or through significant population bottlenecks and associated dramatic reductions in genetic diversity (one possible explanation for the limited genetic diversity observed among Inuit populations throughout the North American Arctic). Barrow and Wainwright, the only two communities on the North Slope for which data is available, were both quarantine points accounting for the 0% mortality (Mamelund et al, 2013). The mortality among North Slope and Kotzebue Sound Inupiaq communities (0% mortality) was considerably less than Inupiaq communities of Norton Sound (34%; range per community 0-90% mortality; Mamelund et al, 2013).…”

Sex‐ and age‐based differences in mortality during the 1918 influenza pandemic on the island of Newfoundland

“…The primary focus of this study is on the island of Newfoundland because of insufficient data for deaths in Labrador. Labrador did fall victim to the 1918 pandemic; in fact, its communities, particularly in the northern regions, experienced some of the highest mortality in the world (Mamelund, Sattenspiel, & Dimka, ; Palmer et al, ; Sattenspiel, ; Sattenspiel & Mamelund, ). Unfortunately, the quality and quantity of death records in Labrador is insufficient—deaths were consistently underreported not only for P&I, but from all causes (Palmer et al, ).…”

Cocirculating Epidemics, Chronic Health Problems, and Social Conditions in Early 20th Century Labrador and Alaska

“…In Southeastern Labrador, mortality averaged about 1% among communities reporting the epidemic, and all deaths occurred during the summer wave (Mamelund et al. ). The average mortality in Central Labrador was about 13%, but the majority of the deaths occurred in the communities surrounding the Sandwich Bay in the southern half of this region.…”

“…Although the maritime quarantine did not hinder the pandemic from entering the ports of Alaska, there are indications that inland quarantine helped to prevent widespread dissemination of the disease to central Alaskan communities (Crosby ; Ganley ; Mamelund et al. ; Philip and Lackman ). In St. John's, Newfoundland, ships with sick sailors on board were quarantined, but there was no official action taken that would interfere with the regular shipping schedule covering the Northeast coast of Labrador.…”

“…Although it is not clear why the degree of indigenous ancestry may be important, rates of mortality overall in both Labrador and Alaska appear to correlate with the extent of European‐indigenous admixture (Mamelund ; Mamelund et al. ).…”