On This Date in Minnesota History: March 10

March 10, 1917 – Thirty-one cases of cerebrospinal meningitis and 10 deaths in Minnesota cities have been reported to the state board of health, according to Dr. A. J. Chesley, state epidemiologist. Of this number, 15 cases have been reported Minneapolis, six from St. Paul, five from Duluth, and one each from Austin, Albert Lea, Faribault, Blue Earth, Iron Mountain, and Martin Township, Rock County. Of the 10 deaths, seven have occurred in Minneapolis, two in Duluth and one in St. Paul.

One suspected case and one death were reported to the city health department today.

“There are four or five cases in the city at present, I cannot say exactly how many,” said Dr. Guilford, city health commissioner.

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“Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis is difficult to control because it is spread by carriers in good health,” said Dr. Chesley. “I have made a study of the history of all 31 cases reported and I could find no association between known cases and any one of these. The situation is general and permits of no control. The only precaution is to quarantine all suspected cases for two weeks and keep them under close surveillance. It is difficult to isolate carriers in a civilian population because movements of persons cannot be controlled.

“Diagnosis can be made by means of lumber puncture and an examination of the spinal fluid. In case of doubt, this should be done immediately. Every case should be removed to a hospital and a trained nurse placed in charge. If the ‘Flexner’s serum’² is used immediately, the patient has a good chance to recover. Should this be delayed, the chances of recovery are small and in case of recovery, the after effects worse than death. Often special nerves are affected and the patient, if he recovers, is blind or dumb. In many respects, it is worse than infantile paralysis, especially the after effects.

“The disease develops very rapidly because of the short incubation period. Reaction is violent and its onset sudden—there can be no doubt in such instances.

“Every case should be regarded with suspicion and reported at once to the health department.”    

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “32 Cases, 10 Deaths From Spinal Disease in State Reported; Health Board Informed of 15 Cases in City Alone, Says Dr. Chesley. News of One Fatality Given Out Today; ‘Meningitis Difficult to Control Because Spread by Carriers in Good Health.’”; March 11, 1917; p. 22.

¹https://www.slideshare.net/EpidAlert/staysafe-alert-points-for-meningococcal-meningitis

²http://centennial.rucares.org/index.php?page=Meningitis

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