Tamil Nadu Timeline

HealthNational and Dravidian movements

Influenza pandemic reaches Madras

· Chennai

The 1918 influenza pandemic reached Madras by the end of June 1918 and caused heavy mortality across the presidency.

The influenza pandemic of 1918 spread to India through ports, with the first cases in Madras reported by the end of June 1918. In its worst weeks, deaths in Madras city exceeded 200 a week. The impact was worsened by a failed monsoon and famine-like conditions in parts of the country. The pandemic was one of the deadliest events in India's modern history.

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