Total Flu Mortality

How to use this map

This map indicates total mortality rate severity per county by the spectrum of red shading, calculating total mortality between the two races. The darker the shade of red, the higher the mortality rate for both whites and African Americans.

Each county is also presented with its own comparative mortality graph. Hover over a county with your cursor to open a bar graph comparing total, white, and African-American mortality rates. In the left screenshot, Escambia County’s bar graph shows that whites suffered a higher mortality rate (6.0 per 1,000) than African-Americans (5.0 per 1,000). This is indicated by the yellow and blue bars. Hover over other counties to see their bar graphs and compare their mortality rates. The interface on the right of the map allows visitors to edit the range of mortality, search for a county, or select specific counties to highlight.

What does this map reveal?

This map indicates the range of total mortality rates statewide. Clearly, Duval County suffered the highest total mortality rate in Florida (7.5 per 1,000). Jacksonville is the largest city in Duval County and in 1918 it was the largest city in Florida. Therefore, it is no wonder the flu inflicted the highest total mortality there. Jacksonville was also the center of military activity in Florida during World War I, with a large US Army base, Camp Johnston, receiving and housing hundreds of soldiers there from around the country. It was also one of the most active ports in Florida, with sailors and seamen traveling through the “River City” constantly.

Flu viruses are spread easily in urban and metropolitan areas because people live close together. This is as true today as it was a century ago. Megacity growth in the twenty-first century, especially those in developing nations, are constantly monitored for diseases because of that threat.