More on Epidemics in Sherburne County
With all of the commentary about pandemics and COVID-19, research revealed the serious amnesia Americans develop regarding the multitude of diseases and infections ravaging the world. It seemed a good idea to explore these epidemics and the impact upon Sherburne County. Unfortunately, very little evidence exists about the pandemics and epidemics in Sherburne County. In the twentieth century, at least six epidemics can be documented in Sherburne County. Influenza raced through the county in 1918, 1957, and 1968. Lest we all forget, the most recent Influenza Epidemic lasted from April of 2009 until April of 2010. In the twelve months, there were 60 million cases reported in the United States. Over 12,000 people died, 67 of them in Minnesota. Polio, another epidemic, seemed to attack the young children of the United States each year. Until the late 1950s polio epidemics seriously threatened the population of Minnesota at leas...