What role did the Spanish flu play? Analysis of the death causes in Ekaterinburg 1917–1919

The Spanish flu pandemic of 1917–1920 killed, according to some researchers, up to 100 million people while others estimate lower numbers such as 20 million victims. The reason for this uncertainty is that data for a number of countries, including Russia, are rather rough estimates based on mortality rates from other parts of the world. This study analyzes the causes of death in the population of Еkaterinburg during the period of the Spanish pandemic to determine likely signs of the spread of influenza. Databases on the causes of death registered in the city’s parish registers were used as a source