When Did Influenza Hit Samoa?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The steamship Talune at the Napier breakwater in 1908. The second wave of the global influenza pandemic came to Western Samoa on board an island trader, the Talune, on 4 November 1918 .

How many Samoans died from Spanish flu?

By 31 December, at least 7,542 Samoan people had died from the virulent influenza, and deaths from influenza continued into 1919. A commission of enquiry calculated a final death toll of about 8,500 , about 22% of the whole population of Western Samoa (Rice 201).

How did American Samoa avoid the flu in 1918?

American Samoa implemented a five-day quarantine for all boats that kept influenza from its shores until 1920. When it finally did arrive, the virus appears to have lost much of its sting and there were no deaths attributed to influenza in a population of more than 8,000.

How NZ took influenza to Samoa killing a fifth of its population?

A Christian missionary walked from village to village along the coast, taking a hacking cough with him. Within days, people were dying. Within weeks, entire villages had died. Within two months , about 8,500 people were dead – a fifth of Samoa’s entire population.

How American Samoa kept a pandemic at bay?

The U.S. Navy appointed Commander John Martin Poyer to govern American Samoa in 1915. ... Poyer quarantined all ships arriving in Pago Pago Harbor, the main port on the north side of Tutuila, and kept passengers under house arrest for five days either on Goat Island in the bay or in the dispensary or hospital.

What were the consequences of the 1918 influenza pandemic in New Zealand?

While the First World War claimed the lives of more than 18,000 New Zealand soldiers over four years, the second wave of the 1918 influenza epidemic killed about 9000 people in less than two months . Death did not occur evenly throughout the country. Some communities were decimated; others escaped largely unscathed.

What happened on Black Saturday Samoa?

28 December 1929

New Zealand military police fired on Mau independence demonstrators in Apia , killing 11 Samoans, including the independence leader Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III.

What were the consequences of the influenza pandemic in Samoa?

The influenza pandemic had a significant impact on New Zealand’s administration of Samoa. Many older matai (chiefs) died , making way for new leaders more familiar with European ways. For survivors, the incident was seared into memory.

When did the Mau movement start?

In March 1927 , the Citizens’ Committee confirmed the principles of an organisation called the League of Samoa. It became known as O le Mau a Samoa – ‘the firm opinion of Samoa’ – the Mau. Its slogan, Samoa Mo Samoa – ‘Samoa for Samoans’ – envisaged a Samoa without New Zealand. Support for the Mau grew rapidly.

How was Samoa founded?

The islands are rocky, formed by volcanic activity that progressed from east to west within the past seven million years. They are ringed by coral reefs and shallow lagoons except where the shorelines are marked by cliffs formed by lava flows. Mount Matavanu on Savai’i last erupted intermittently during 1905–11.

What did NZ do to Samoa?

In June 2002 New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark formally apologised to Samoa for three actions taken by the New Zealand administration between 1918 and 1929: allowing the ship Talune, carrying passengers with influenza, to dock in Apia , which resulted in the deaths of more than one in five Samoans; shooting non- ...

What was the deadliest month of the Spanish flu?

October 1918 was the month with the highest fatality rate of the whole pandemic. In the United States, ~292,000 deaths were reported between September–December 1918, compared to ~26,000 during the same time period in 1915.

Which microorganism was responsible for the Spanish flu?

No diagnostic tests existed at the time that could test for influenza infection. In fact, doctors didn’t know influenza viruses existed. Many health experts at the time thought the 1918 pandemic was caused by a bacterium called “Pfeiffer’s bacillus,” which is now known as Haemophilus influenzae .

How much does it cost to go to American Samoa?

Low season June Best time to beat the crowds with an average 4% drop in price. High season June Most popular time to fly with an average increase in price. Average price round-trip $1,868 (avg. price over the last 2 weeks) Good deal round-trip $1,341 or less Good deal one-way $703 or less

What was the worst pandemic in history?

1. Plague of Justinian —No One Left to Die. Yersinia pestis, formerly pasteurella pestis, was the bacteria responsible for the plague.

How many Maori died in the 1918 pandemic?

The influenza took a terrible toll on Māori. Over 2,160 died (a death rate of 42.3 per 1000 compared with the European rate of 5.5.

Diane Mitchell
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Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.