1918-1919Gloucester faced the influenza epidemic.Events & Anniversaries, Government and Public Service, World Events, Health

In September cases began to be reported, and within four days the first death from the disease had occurred in Gloucester. Within two weeks, 82 individuals in Gloucester had died. By the time the epidemic was over at the end of the year, it was estimated that it infected nearly 4,000 Cape Ann residents and took the lives of more than 250.