Editing 1918 Influenza Epidemic (section)

== Arrival of the Epidemic ==

The influenza virus reached Philadelphia in September 1918, probably introduced by sailors at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The first cases appeared in early September, and by mid-month, the disease was spreading rapidly through the naval facility and surrounding neighborhoods. The virus was unusually deadly, particularly among healthy young adults—the demographic that typically survives influenza. Victims often developed severe pneumonia and could die within days or even hours of showing symptoms. Some victims turned blue from lack of oxygen as their lungs filled with fluid. The disease spread easily in the crowded conditions of wartime Philadelphia—in factories, transit vehicles, and densely packed neighborhoods.<ref name="crosby">{{cite book |last=Crosby |first=Alfred W. |title=America's Forgotten Pandemic: The Influenza of 1918 |year=1989 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge}}</ref>

Dr. Wilmer Krusen, Philadelphia's Director of Public Health, initially downplayed the threat, attributing early deaths to ordinary seasonal influenza. His reassurances continued even as hospital admissions climbed. The city was focused on the war effort—factories were running at capacity, bond drives were underway, and authorities were reluctant to take actions that might undermine morale or production. The Navy Yard, where the epidemic appeared to have originated, continued operations without major restrictions. The gap between the epidemic's severity and official response would prove catastrophic in the weeks ahead.<ref name="barry"/>