Asian Flu Pandemic, 1957

The 1957 influenza pandemic (nicknamed the “Asian flu”) was an outbreak of avian influenza that originated in the Guizhou province of China in early 1956 and lasted until 1958 and is estimated to have killed up to two million people worldwide. It is said to have originated from mutation in wild ducks combining with a pre-existing human influenza strain. In the first months of the 1957 Asian flu pandemic, the virus spread throughout China and surrounding regions. By mid-year it had circled the globe. As an entirely new strain, there was no immunity in the populace. It became the second major influenza pandemic to occur in the 20th century and followed the influenza pandemic of 1918-19 (also known as “Spanish flu”). A third pandemic – Hong Kong flu – would follow in 1968. 

The first cases in the UK were in late June 1957, with a serious outbreak in the general population occurring in August. From mid-September onwards the virus spread from the North, West, and Wales to the South, East, and Scotland. One GP recalled: “We were amazed at the extraordinary infectivity of the disease, overawed by the suddenness of its outset and surprised at the protean nature of its symptomatology.” When it finally arrived, the virus quickly infected millions. It would go on to infect 12 million Britons and kill up to 33,000, with two-thirds of the fatalities among those aged 55 and over. It peaked the week ending 17th October. The virus had a huge economic cost. Not only was £10 million spent nationally on sickness benefit, but also with factories, offices and mines closed the economy was hit. Despite that, disruption to everyday life was minimal. By September 1957, the virus had affected thousands of people in England and it also had a significant effect on St Gregory’s.

The school reopened after the summer holidays on 9th September, with two new teachers (Mr Wynne and Mr Henshall) joining the staff and four classes admitted into the first year. Mr Rocca had confidently noted that “The painting of the school had been completed” and all was set for the start of the new school year. However, the coming together of a large group of people at the same time as the outbreak of Asian flu led to the virus spreading rapidly among both boys and staff and was to have serious consequences during that first half term with rapidly rising numbers being absent. The table below is based on notes written by Mr Rocca and shows how quickly the rate of absenteeism escalated at a time of the year when attendance was normally very good.

Some comments:

• Whilst there were other reasons for some absences, the vast majority were probably due to Asian flu.

• It is probable that many boys were infected with the virus and absent in the first week of term – from the 9th – although there are no figures for this.

• Second and third weeks of term were the worst.

• Some infected boys may have returned to school after a few days or so.

• It is possible that in excess of 350 boys were absent at one time or another due to the virus. It is also possible that some pupils, although infected, remained in school in the belief that all they were suffering from was a cold.

• Four teachers were absent by the end of the first week and four by the end of the second week. Mr Rocca noted that: “Several classes where attendance is very low have been combined.” The number of absent teachers increased to seven and then to nine, causing Mr Rocca to note that: “One half of the staff is absent.” An improvised timetable was in use and more classes had to be merged, with teachers having to do the best they could.

• Not until 7th October was the full complement of teaching staff present for the first time that term.

• One can only imagine what life in school was like during that brief period – especially for the first-year boys. 

• Since this interruption was at the beginning of the school year, senior pupils studying for important end-of-year examinations still had plenty of opportunity to make up for lost time.

• It must be remembered that the school was then much smaller, both in numbers and in physical size. There were 516 pupils on roll in an old building originally intended to accommodate 400. Some of the classrooms were small, others partitioned. In some cases, as shown on the plans, pupils walked through one room to reach another. Corridors and passageways were short and narrow and the playground relatively small. Washing and lavatory facilities were probably inadequate and some boys may well have been lacking in good personal hygiene habits. These, then, were just some of the factors that contributed to a congested and unhealthy environment in which germs and viruses could easily be transmitted and spread through coughs and sneezes. It was not surprising, therefore, that so many became infected so quickly.

Slip up

An unfortunate accident occurred around this time when a member of staff was badly shaken after slipping and falling down the cellar steps, breaking his glasses in the process. Although not seriously hurt, he went home before the end of the school day.

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