7,044 died as influenza swept Delhi a century ago

In 1918, influenza wreaked havoc in New Delhi, claiming the lives of 7,044 city residents. The pandemic, which began with a single ailing European passenger arriving from Shimla (now Shimla), quickly spread across the city. By October, cases had surged to over 100 per day, with many patients suffering severe symptoms such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and pleurisy. Doctors were overwhelmed, working near their capacity.

In response, the British India administration declared influenza an infectious disease in Delhi in September 1920, granting the Delhi Municipality authority to control its spread. Today, H1N1 influenza is still covered under Delhi's infection-control guidelines as a reportable infection, though not every seasonal case is individually reported.

The 1918-19 influenza pandemic remains one of the worst public health disasters in India's modern history. The pandemic originated in June 1918, but a more deadly second wave emerged in September. Symptoms included fever, weakness, body and limb pain, headache, sore eyes, cough, and bronchitis. In severe cases, influenza led to pneumonia within days.

Dr. Arvind Aggarwal, Director of Internal Medicine at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, Delhi, noted that this influenza virus was known as the Bombay influenza virus, which could be H1N1 or a mix of Influenza A and B.

Delhi officials recognized the need to bring influenza under the city's infectious-disease law. In July 1920, the Sanitation Sub-committee considered whether ordinary influenza should be included among infectious diseases under the Punjab Municipal Act. After reviewing arrangements in Bombay, Madras, and England, the committee recommended notification.

The Delhi Municipality sought a draft notification, and the Chief Commissioner issued the final decree in September 1920, officially declaring ordinary influenza an infectious disease.