View report page

20
not behave in different local areas in the same way at the same time and the epidemic
curve for the whole country is compounded of those of different localities subject to
variations in timing and operation of spread as between one district and another.
WEEKLY DEATHS FROM INELUENZA , LONDON 1950-51
AND WEEKLY AVERAGE IN N0N-EPIDEMIC YEARS 1944-48
Thus the 1923/24, 1926/27 curves for the Great Towns were much influenced by an
earlier rise in London than occurred in Birmingham and Manchester. A much
sharper peak was evident in 1921/22 and 1928/29 when there was less difference in
timing. Since 1931 there has been a tendency for the widely separated towns of
London, Birmingham and Manchester to give mortality peaks closer in time and
thus tend to produce sharper curves for the Great Towns. In the most recent
epidemic the mortality in London, Manchester and Birmingham exceeded that for