MAJOR EPIDEMICS & DISEASE OUTBREAKS TIMELINE ******************************************** Mostly based on writings from the 1700 & 1800s. Place names in brackets signify areas where disease especially deadly. Not all epidemics are listed nor all types of diseases are included. Diseases like tuberculosis, scurvy, syphilis, dysentery, infantile diarrhoea, enteritis, respiratory ailments etc consistently took their toll especially in the crowded industrial centres & large cities for most of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. YEARS EPIDEMICS & OUTBREAKS (documented at least twice) 1348 - 1350 The black death (pneumonic, septicemic, and bubonic plagues). "The seventh year after it began, it came to England and first began in the towns and ports joining on the seacoasts, in Dorsetshire, where, as in other counties, it made the country quite void of inhabitants so that there were almost none left alive. ... But at length it came to Gloucester, yea even to Oxford and to London, and finally it spread over all England and so wasted the people that scarce the tenth person of any sort was left alive." (Geoffrey the Baker, Chronicon Angliae) 1600s 'influenza' in Summers, shift in late 1600s to Spring/Winter; smallpox already a killer disease; the Plague returned in force in 1665 but in smaller outbreaks in other years 1612 - 1651 The 'new disease' first emerges in Britain. Uncertain what it is - possibly typhus 1663 The 'new disease' is at it's height across the country 1670 Jan - June measles epidemic (London) followed by smallpox epidemic, mention of 'hooping cough'; high diarrhoea in infants 1674 Jan - June measles epidemic (London) 1675 Influenza first identified in London written records - Europe wide epidemic 1679 'hooping cough' again recorded 1700s Early 1700s influenza occurs in Winter; later 1700s occurs all seasons. Note the generational flare up of epidemics throughout the 1700s 1700 Smallpox = 2000 deaths per year (London); 25% of all those infected; city disease most fatalities in children; basically a city disease therefore spread limited 1705 Measles epidemic (London) 1706 Measles epidemic (London) 1708 Exceptionally cold winter; crops affected throughout that year 1710 Smallpox 1717 Smallpox epidemic (Manchester - 8000 dead) 1718 Measles epidemic (London); smallpox (London); influenza epidemic 1719 Measles epidemic (London); smallpox epidemic (London) followed by severe influenza 1721 Measles epidemic (York); general smallpox epidemic severe in Halifax, Ripon, York 1722 General smallpox epidemic severe in Halifax, Ripon, York 1723 Smallpox. Inoculation developed & gaining acceptance 1726 Measles (Ripon) followed by whooping cough & scarlatina /diphtheria (Ripon) 1727 Scarlatina /diphtheria epidemic (Ripon) 1728 Scarlatina /diphtheria epidemic (York & Plymouth) 1730 Whooping cough especially in London; measles epidemic 1733 Measles epidemic; smallpox especially severe in York 1734 Scarlatina /diphtheria especially severe Plymouth, Cornwall & Devon 1735 Scarlatina /diphtheria especially severe Plymouth, Cornwall & Devon 1736 Scarlatina /diphtheria especially severe Plymouth, Cornwall & Devon; smallpox 1739 Intensely cold winter; scarlatina (London) 1740 Intensely cold winter; scarlatina (London) 1741 Severe typhus (London) 1742 Severe typhus (London); measles epidemic 1745 Scarlatina (Sheffield) 1746 Scarlatina especially severe in London; smallpox 1747 Scarlatina especially severe in London 1748 Scarlatina especially severe in London & epidemic in Cornwall, Kidderminster, St Albans although present across country; typhus epidemic 1749 Scarlatina especially severe in London & epidemic in Cornwall, Kidderminster, St Albans although present across country; typhus epidemic 1750 Widespread Scarlatina epidemics rife throughout the 1750s Scarlatina (Plymouth, London, Kidderminster epidemic) 1751 Scarlatina (Plymouth, London, Kidderminster epidemic) 1752 Smallpox 1755 Measles epidemic 1757 Smallpox (Manchester 19,839 dead) 1758 Influenza type epidemic 1759 Measles epidemic; scarlatina epidemic (Newcastle, Yorkshire) 1760 Measles epidemic; Influenza type epidemic recorded in horses 1763 Smallpox 1766 Paving Act improved health in some cities 1768 Measles epidemic (London) 1770 Scarlatina epidemic (London) 1773 Typhus epidemic in Chester; smallpox epidemic (Manchester 27,246 Dead) 1777 Scarlatina epidemic (Worcestershire) 1778 Scarlatina epidemic (Worcestershire); typhus epidemic 1779 Typhus epidemic; scarlatina epidemic; measles epidemic; smallpox epidemic (London) 1781 'Plague ague' (unclear, possibly Malaria) along the River Severn Valley; smallpox 1782 'Plague ague' (unclear, possibly Malaria) along the River Severn Valley 1783 Laki volcano erupts (Iceland) volcanic winter follows; Typhus epidemic; dysentery; 'Plague ague' (unclear, possibly Malaria) along the River Severn Valley 1784 'Plague ague' (unclear, possibly Malaria) along the River Severn Valley 1785 Measles epidemic; dysentery; scarlatina & 'the sore throat' disease (London) 1786 Measles epidemic; typhus epidemic; scarlatina & 'the sore throat' disease (London) 1787 Measles epidemic; typhus epidemic; scarlatina & 'the sore throat' disease (London); typhus 3124 deaths a year 1788 Extremely hot summer; scarlet fever; 'the sore throat' disease (London); scarlatina epidemic; typhus 3124 deaths a year 1789 Scarlet fever; 'the sore throat' disease (London); typhus 3124 deaths a year 1790 'the sore throat' disease (London, possibly Diphtheria); typhus epidemic (Liverpool 160 cases per month); Typhus 3124 deaths a year 1791 'the sore throat' disease (London, possibly Diphtheria); typhus among the well to do across England; typhus 3124 deaths a year 1792 'the sore throat' disease (London, possibly Diphtheria); typhus 3124 deaths a year 1793 'the sore throat' disease (London, possibly Diphtheria); typhus 3124 deaths a year; croup/diphtheria epidemic (London); scarlatina & diphtheria epidemic (Buckinghamshire) 1794 'the sore throat' disease (London, possibly Diphtheria); typhus 3124 deaths a year 1795 Typhus 3124 deaths a year 1796 Measles epidemics more frequent & becoming more severe; typhus 3124 deaths a year; smallpox epidemic; measles followed & recorded as becoming more severe in its effects 1797 Influenza like epidemic amongst cats 1798 Influenza like epidemic amongst cats 1799 Typhus epidemic; scarlatina epidemic spreads from London to rest of country 1800 Typhus epidemic; scarlatina epidemic 1801 Severe measles epidemic (Middlesex); scarlatina epidemic (Middlesex) then the rest of the country (Suffolk, Northampton) 1802 Severe measles epidemic (Middlesex) 1803 Influenza (London, British troops in Ireland, Bath, Chester) - spreads along coach roads; scarlatina (Yorkshire Quaker schools especially hit) 1804 Scarlatina epidemic (south west, Manchester) 1805 Scarlatina epidemic (south west, Manchester) 1807 Scarlatina severe outbreaks countrywide 1808 Severe measles epidemic (London) exceeds smallpox as killer of children, adult deaths also significant especially London; Scarlatina severe outbreaks 1810 Typhus epidemic; scarlatina (Nottingham, Suffolk) 1811 Measles epidemic 1812 Measles epidemic 1814 Severe winter; measles epidemic; scarlatina epidemic 1815 Measles epidemic 1816 'Year Without A Summer' Very poor harvest; famine, food riots, Welsh leave to to beg for food in England; general smallpox epidemic; 100,000 Irish dead 1817 'the Irish disease' (probably typhus with a possibly relapsing fever) London 1 in 14 died; severe in Halifax, Leeds, Ripon, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Atley, Carlisle 1 in 10 died, Newcastle, it was milder but longer lasting, particularly affected servants to the well to do. 1818 'the Irish disease' (probably typhus with a possibly relapsing fever) London 1 in 14 died; severe in Halifax, Leeds, Ripon, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Atley, Carlisle 1 in 10 died, Newcastle, it was milder but longer lasting, particularly affected servants to the well to do. Measles epidemic in eastern counties 1819 'the Irish disease' (probably typhus with a possibly relapsing fever) London 1 in 14 died; severe in Halifax; smallpox epidemic (Norwich) 1824 Measles epidemic south especially Exeter 1826 Excessively high temperatures also excessive rains followed by the Great Drought; general 'fevers' epidemic; typhus (Manchester over 31,474) 1827 High temperatures also excessive rains followed by drought 1828 High temperatures also excessive rains followed by drought 1830 Highly virulent strain of typhus (spotted typhus) epidemic 1831 First record of cholera - Asiatic cholera (Sunderland, Newcastle on Tyne, Newburn) spread throughout Britain attacking all classes; epidemic (30,000); 'malignant scarlatina' countrywide (Plymouth, Staffordshire); Highly virulent strain of typhus (spotted typhus) epidemic 1832 Highly virulent strain of typhus (spotted typhus) epidemic 1833 Highly virulent strain of typhus (spotted typhus) epidemic 1834 Highly virulent strain of typhus (spotted typhus) epidemic 1836 Excessively wet winter 1837 Measles epidemic; typhus epidemic (London, Manchester, Liverpool) deaths in north 18,775; smallpox epidemic (south west England & Wales extremely high mortality rate) 1838 Smallpox epidemic (south west England & Wales extremely high mortality rate); typhus epidemic (London, Manchester, Liverpool) deaths in north 15,666; in London 18,775 1839 Smallpox epidemic (south west England & Wales extremely high mortality rate); scarlatina epidemic; typhus epidemic (Manchester, Liverpool) deaths in north 17,177; in London 15,666 1840 Smallpox epidemic (south west England & Wales extremely high mortality rate, Lancashire); scarlet fever outbreak continued for next 30-40 years in severe proportions; cholera epidemic (Dorset, Lancashire); typhus kills 17,177 in London 1841 Typhus epidemic (London 14,846) 1842 Typhus epidemic (London 16,201) 1844 The Great Scarlatina epidemic 1846 Excessively hot summer, drought - all diseases flare up across the country; 'famine fever'/Irish fever (typhus) 500,00 to 1 million died between 1846 & 1848 Lancashire & Cheshire very badly hit, floating hospital ships o the Mersey Birmingham, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Leeds, Hull, York, Sunderland all systematically saw dramatically increased death rates 1847 Famine; typhus epidemic (30,320); 1848 Good harvest, fall in food prices, employment rises; Typhus epidemic 21,406 epidemic ended with increase in employment & drop in food prices; cholera epidemic 62,000; scarlatina epidemic 1853 Cholera epidemic (north, Newcastle 26,000, London 10,000); vaccination against smallpox made compulsory but not always done (see death rate for 1870) 1854 Cholera epidemic (north, Newcastle 26,000, London 10,000) 1856 Typhus epidemic (London) followed returning soldiers from Crimean War; diphtheria epidemic 1857 Diphtheria epidemic 1858 Diphtheria epidemic; scarlatina epidemic 1859 Scarlatina epidemic 1861 American cotton crop fails Typhus epidemic Lancashire towns 1862 Typhus epidemic Lancashire towns 1863 Scarlatina epidemic (South West) followed by chronic measles epidemic; Typhus epidemic Lancashire towns 1864 Scarlatina epidemic (South West) followed by chronic measles epidemic; Typhus epidemic Lancashire towns 1865 Typhus epidemic Lancashire towns 1866 Typhus epidemic Lancashire towns; whooping cough epidemic; cholera epidemic 14,000 1867 Typhus epidemic Lancashire towns; cholera epidemic 14,000 Dead 1868 Scarlatina epidemic; 'relapsing fever/typhus (London) 1869 Scarlatina epidemic; 'relapsing fever/typhus (London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford) 1870 Scarlatina epidemic; 'relapsing fever/typhus (London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford,); smallpox 23,100; decline of tuberculosis also decline in typhus 1871 Smallpox 19,000 Dead 1872 Smallpox 1873 Smallpox 1874 Severe scarlatina epidemic; smallpox 1875 Smallpox 1878 Whooping cough epidemic 1879 Severe measles epidemic; scarlatina epidemic 1880 Severe measles epidemic; scarlatina epidemic 1881 Smallpox epidemic; hospital ships moored in Thames 1883 Krakatoa eruption; Measles epidemic 1885 Measles epidemic 1887 Measles epidemic 1888 Severe measles epidemic in Staffordshire 1889 Measles epidemic; influenza pandemic between a third & a half of population ill. Medical opinion that this strain WAS the same mutation that returned in the 1918 pandemic 1890 Influenza pandemic between a third & a half of population ill. 1891 Influenza pandemic between a third & a half of population ill. 1892 Influenza pandemic between a third & a half of population ill. 1894 Severe measles epidemic amongst infants (London) 1918 Influenza pandemic 50 million die world wide 1919 Influenza pandemic 50 million die world wide - London 23,000 Dead