The 1919–21 influenza pandemic in Greenland
In Alaska, the 1918–20 influenza pandemic was devastating, with mortality rates up to 90% of the population, while in other arctic regions in northern Sweden and Norway mortality was considerably lower. We investigated the timing and age-patterns in excess mortality in Greenland during the period 19...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2024.2325711 |
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| author | Mathias Mølbak Ingholt Lone Simonsen Svenn-Erik Mamelund Paneeraq Noahsen Maarten van Wijhe |
| author_facet | Mathias Mølbak Ingholt Lone Simonsen Svenn-Erik Mamelund Paneeraq Noahsen Maarten van Wijhe |
| author_sort | Mathias Mølbak Ingholt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Alaska, the 1918–20 influenza pandemic was devastating, with mortality rates up to 90% of the population, while in other arctic regions in northern Sweden and Norway mortality was considerably lower. We investigated the timing and age-patterns in excess mortality in Greenland during the period 1918–21 and compare these to other epidemics and the 1889–92 pandemic. We accessed the Greenlandic National Archives and transcribed all deaths from 1880 to 1921 by age, geography, and cause of death. We estimated monthly excess mortality and studied the spatial-temporal patterns of the pandemics and compared them to other mortality crises in the 40-year period. The 1918–21 influenza pandemic arrived in Greenland in the summer of 1919, one year delayed due to ship traffic interruptions during the winter months. We found that 5.2% of the Greenland population died of the pandemic with substantial variability between counties (range, 0.1% to 11%). We did not see the typical pandemic age-pattern of high young-adult mortality, possibly due to high baseline mortality in this age-group or remoteness. However, despite substantial mortality, the mortality impact was not standing out relative to other mortality crises, or of similar devastation reported in Alaskan populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2fa2bbbbf3ef4e37b933d2bb0acf6524 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2242-3982 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-2fa2bbbbf3ef4e37b933d2bb0acf65242024-11-29T19:53:25ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Circumpolar Health2242-39822024-12-0183110.1080/22423982.2024.2325711The 1919–21 influenza pandemic in GreenlandMathias Mølbak Ingholt0Lone Simonsen1Svenn-Erik Mamelund2Paneeraq Noahsen3Maarten van Wijhe4PandemiX Center, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, DenmarkPandemiX Center, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, DenmarkCentre for Research on Pandemics & Society (PANSOC), OsloMet, Oslo, NorwayNational Board of Health in Greenland, Nuuk, GreenlandPandemiX Center, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, DenmarkIn Alaska, the 1918–20 influenza pandemic was devastating, with mortality rates up to 90% of the population, while in other arctic regions in northern Sweden and Norway mortality was considerably lower. We investigated the timing and age-patterns in excess mortality in Greenland during the period 1918–21 and compare these to other epidemics and the 1889–92 pandemic. We accessed the Greenlandic National Archives and transcribed all deaths from 1880 to 1921 by age, geography, and cause of death. We estimated monthly excess mortality and studied the spatial-temporal patterns of the pandemics and compared them to other mortality crises in the 40-year period. The 1918–21 influenza pandemic arrived in Greenland in the summer of 1919, one year delayed due to ship traffic interruptions during the winter months. We found that 5.2% of the Greenland population died of the pandemic with substantial variability between counties (range, 0.1% to 11%). We did not see the typical pandemic age-pattern of high young-adult mortality, possibly due to high baseline mortality in this age-group or remoteness. However, despite substantial mortality, the mortality impact was not standing out relative to other mortality crises, or of similar devastation reported in Alaskan populations.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2024.2325711Greenland1918–20 influenza pandemic1889–92 pandemicexcess mortalityHistorical epidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Mathias Mølbak Ingholt Lone Simonsen Svenn-Erik Mamelund Paneeraq Noahsen Maarten van Wijhe The 1919–21 influenza pandemic in Greenland International Journal of Circumpolar Health Greenland 1918–20 influenza pandemic 1889–92 pandemic excess mortality Historical epidemiology |
| title | The 1919–21 influenza pandemic in Greenland |
| title_full | The 1919–21 influenza pandemic in Greenland |
| title_fullStr | The 1919–21 influenza pandemic in Greenland |
| title_full_unstemmed | The 1919–21 influenza pandemic in Greenland |
| title_short | The 1919–21 influenza pandemic in Greenland |
| title_sort | 1919 21 influenza pandemic in greenland |
| topic | Greenland 1918–20 influenza pandemic 1889–92 pandemic excess mortality Historical epidemiology |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2024.2325711 |
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