43 ~1,555

lornajarrettblanchard January 1, 1951

–~1,555 Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.

— 1,551 US PHS. Vital Statistics of the [U.S.] 1951, Vol. II, Mortality Data. 1954, p. 364

–40-41 AL Blanchard using US PHS and Anniston Star, AL. 1-8-1953, p. 4.

–41 Anniston Star, AL. “Help the March of Dimes.” 1-8-1953, p. 4.

–40 US PHS. Vital Statistics…1951, II. “Table 58. Deaths From 33…Causes.” p. 364.

— 20 AZ “ “

— 22 AR “ “

— 156 CA “ “

— 50 CO “ “

— 11 CT “ “

— 0 DE “ “

— 4 DC “ “

— 15 FL “ “

— 26 GA “ “

— 8 ID “ “

— 94 IL “ “

— 50 IN “ “

–17-19 IA Blanchard, using US PHS and Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette.

–17 IA US PHS. Vital Statistics…1951, II. “Table 58. Deaths From 33…Causes.” p. 364.

–19 “ Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette, IA. “Fewer Marriages…’51.” 12-24-1951.

— 53 KS US PHS. Vital Statistics…1951, II. “Table 58. Deaths From 33…Causes.” p. 364.

— 21 KY “ “

— 33 LA “ “

— 2 ME “ “

— 5 MD “ “

— 11 MA “ “

— 62 MI “ “

— 41 MN “ “

— 37 MS “ “

— 50 MO “ “

— 5 MT “ “

— 15 NE “ “

— 3 NV “ “

— 1 NH “ “

— 39 NJ “ “

— 11 NM “ “

— 61 NY “ “

— 10 NC “ “

— 7 ND “ “

— 55 OH “ “

— 36 OK “ “

— 12 OR “ “

— 43 PA “ “

–16 Pittsburgh. The Blizzard, Oil City, PA. “16 New Polio Cases…” 10-28-1952, p. 12.

— 2 RI US PHS. Vital Statistics…1951, II. “Table 58. Deaths From 33…Causes.” p. 364.

— 6 SC “ “

— 9 SD “ “

— 35 TN “ “

— 183 TX “ “

–3 Houston. Florence…News, SC. “Polio Epidemic Rages in Texas.” 6-24-1952, p. 5.

–9 Odessa. Portsmouth Herald, NH. “Polio Cases Total 59…Texas…” 12-3-1951.

— 43 UT US PHS. Vital Statistics…1951, II. “Table 58. Deaths From 33…Causes.” p. 364.

— 1 VT “ “

— 11 VA “ “

–17-18 WA Blanchard using US PHS and Centralia Daily Chronicle, 9-25-1952, p. 5.

–17 US PHS. Vital Statistics…1951, II. “Table 58. Deaths From 33…Causes.” p. 364.

–18 Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA. “Polio Decline is Hoped For.” 9-25-1952, p. 5.

— 14 WV US PHS. Vital Statistics…1951, II. “Table 58. Deaths From 33…Causes.” p. 364.

— 74 WI US PHS. Vital Statistics…1951, II. “Table 58. Deaths From 33…Causes.” p. 364.

–18 Milwaukee. Rhinelander…News, WI. “Two More Polio Deaths…” 9-29-1952, 1.

— 30 WY US PHS. Vital Statistics…1951, II. “Table 58. Deaths From 33…Causes.” p. 364.

Narrative Information

“By United Press. The ‘National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis reports that the incidence of polio is increasing, and has reached near epidemic proportions in parts of Colorado, Utah and Louisiana. The foundation said the number of cases began surging upward about three weeks ago. Until then, there were fewer cases than last year.

“Cases reported from Jan. 1 to Aug 25 totaled 11,892, the foundation said, compared with 11,838 for the corresponding period last year.

“Dr. Robert Neville, director of orthopedic services for the foundation, said ‘there’s really an epidemic in Colorado, and Utah also has a serious situation.’ Colorado reported 591 cases up to Aug. 25, compared with only 58 for the corresponding period last year.

“At Provo, Utah, the foundation announced it is sponsoring a mass inoculation program to test whether gamma globulin, used for years to lessen the effects of measles, can prevent paralysis in polio. The five-day experiment, first of its kind, will be conducted among volunteers from 12,000 children in the Provo area. The region was selected for the test because it is nearing the peak of an outbreak with 50 cases among the country’s 82,000 residents.

“Throughout Utah, 204 cases including 18 deaths were reported up to Aug. 25, compared with only 31 cases for the corresponding period last year….

“In Louisiana, 270 cases of polio were reported up to Aug. 18, compared with 190 cases for a similar period in 1950. So far this year, Louisiana had recorded 17 deaths. Through last Thursday, Caddo parish, which includes the city of Shreveport, had 288 cases, and health authorities termed the outbreak an epidemic. The outbreak began in June and appeared to be leveling off until last Monday when 17 more cases were reported. City and Parish health boards decided to postpone the opening of all schools indefinitely. They had been scheduled to open for the fall term Tuesday.

“In Wisconsin, the opening of grade school was postponed one week to Sept. 12 in Milwaukee and suburban West Allis and Cudahy. Classes will be conducted by radio and television until then. Six new cases raised Milwaukee’s total for the year to 212, compared with 38 for the corresponding period last year.” (Delta Democrat-Times, Greenville, MS. “Polio on Upsurge across the Nation.” 9-2-1951, 8.)

California

“San Diego – (AP) The City County Health Department reports 24 polio deaths and 166 case thus far this year in San Diego County. Last year [1951] there were five deaths in 98 cases to this date.” (Long Beach Press-Telegram. “Polio Deaths Up.” 9-12-1952, A8.)

Illinois

“Springfield, (AP) — Polio cases in Illinois reached their peak in September and “should decline now,” the state public health department said Wednesday. The department said 586 cases were reported in September, boosting the total for the first eight months of the year to 1,281 cases. This is 107 cases more than were recorded in the first three-quarters of 1950, the department said. September and August are the peak months in any year, a department spokesman said, and the “number of cases should decline now.” August cases this year numbered 543.

“Unofficially, 54 polio deaths were reported to Oct. 1, the department said.” (Edwardsville Intelligencer, IL. “586 Cases of Polio Reported in Sept.” 10-3-1951, 2.)

Michigan

“Detroit – (AP) – Two more polio deaths Monday brought Detroit’s 1952 toll to 28. So far 422 Detroiters have been stricken, compared with 456 cases and 22 deaths in the same period a year ago.” (News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI. “Two Detroit Polio Deaths.” 9-18-1952, 16.)

Texas

Odessa, Nov. 29. (UP) – A polio scare brought an exodus of children today while city officials hurried to clean up Odessa. Two polio deaths were reported yesterday. The eighth polio death of the year was confirmed yesterday. Forty-two polio cases have occurred this year. The migration of children included both preschool and school-age youngsters. No accurate figure was available on the number. Children have been sent to Dallas, Fort Worth, Eastland, Pekin, Ill., and summer homes at…N. M….

“Others were moved to farms and ranches in the area. Four new cases were diagnosed yesterday. Of the 42 cases this year 38 have occurred since October 1.” (San Mateo Times, CA. “Children Flee as Polio Hits Town.” 11-29-1951, p. 15.)

Utah

“Salt Lake City, Dec. 14 (AP). Utah has suffered the most severe polio epidemic of any state in the nation, four times the 1951 average, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis reports. Dr Creed Haymond released the foundation report. Dr. Haymond is Utah chairman of the March of Dimes, and was given the information by the foundation s New York office. The report to Dr. Haymond said the incidence of polio in Utah — which has reported 566 cases to date — has surpassed that of Colorado, another hard hit state. Utah has suffered 43 polio deaths, a mortality rate of better than eight per cent. The foundation reported Utah’s incidence of 8113 cases per 100,000 population is four times the U. S. average this year. Colorado has an incidence of 80 91 cases per 100,000

“The highest incidence in Utah is in Utah county, site of a unique test this fall by the foundation. Thousands of children were volunteered by their patents in a program designed to test the paralysis preventive effects of gamma globulin a human blood fraction.” (Reno Evening Gazette, NV. “Utah Polio Rate Highest in U.S.” 12-14-1951, p. 12.)

Select Sources

Anniston Star, AL. “Help the March of Dimes.” 1-8-1953, p. 4. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=74794010

Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette, IA. “Fewer Marriages, Divorces in First 10 Months of ’51.” 12-24-1951, 20. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=137174555

Charleston Gazette, WV. “State Retains Position in ‘Baby Belt’ of Nation.” 3-14-1952, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=39983484

Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA. “Polio Decline is Hoped For.” 9-25-1952, p. 5. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=79547611

Delta Democrat-Times, Greenville, MS. “Polio on Upsurge across the Nation.” 9-2-1951, p. 8. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=52381269

Edwardsville Intelligencer, IL. “586 Cases of Polio Reported in September.” 10-3-1951, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=1687199

Florence Morning News, SC. “Polio Epidemic Rages in Texas.” 6-24-1952, p. 5. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=51803683

Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA. “Polio Deaths Up.” 9-12-1952, A8. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=46266744

News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI. “Two Detroit Polio Deaths.” 9-18-1952, p. 16. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=73619869

Portsmouth Herald, NH. “Polio Cases Total 59 as Texas Fights against Epidemic.” 12-3-1951, 5. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=54532803

Reno Evening Gazette, NV. “Utah Polio Rate Highest in U.S.” 12-14-1951, p. 12. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=2140871

Rhinelander Daily News, WI. “Two More Polio Deaths Recorded.” 9-29-1952, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=126946193

San Mateo Times, CA. “Children Flee as Polio Hits Town.” 11-29-1951, p. 15. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=49174799

The Blizzard, Oil City, PA. “16 New Polio Cases Listed for Pittsburgh.” 10-28-1952, 12. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=59358842

United States Public Health Service, Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare. Vital Statistics of the United States 1951, Vol. II, Mortality Data. Washington, GPO, 1954. Google digitized at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsus/VSUS_1951_2.pdf