Measles, Malnutrition and Mortality: Puerto Rico, 1917-1918
José G Rigau-Pérez1, Evelyn D Vallejo-Calzada2
1Academia Puertorriqueña de la Historia, San Juan, PR; Assistant Professor, ad honorem, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR.
Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal
|May 9, 2020
Summary
The 1917-1918 measles epidemic in Puerto Rico caused nearly 2,000 deaths, disproportionately affecting young children. Poor nutrition and living conditions significantly worsened the measles outbreak
Area of Science:
- Historical epidemiology
- Public health
- Disaster response
Background:
- Recent measles outbreaks underscore the need to understand historical epidemics.
- The 1917-1918 Puerto Rico measles epidemic offers insights into disease impact and societal factors.
Observation:
- The epidemic spanned two years, resulting in nearly 2,000 deaths and over 9,000 reported cases.
- Children under two years old constituted 59% of fatalities in the initial six months.
- Poor nutrition and living conditions were identified as key determinants of epidemic severity.
Findings:
- Social sectors and community groups initiated responses before central government mobilization.
- Churches and women's groups provided aid, including milk for children and a temporary hospital.
- Governments established hospitals and milk stations despite food scarcity and wartime conditions.
Implications:
- Historical disease outbreaks reveal critical socioeconomic and health system factors.
- This study informs the history of pediatrics, epidemiology, and disaster response.
- Preparedness for future measles epidemics requires robust public health systems and healthcare professional readiness.
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