Estimating Mortality From the Influenza Pandemic of 1918–19 in Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean

This paper reassesses the extent of the 1918–19 influenza pandemic in the former Dutch colonies of Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean islands. Although both colonies were under Dutch rule, local context, statistical registration practices, and available source material varied considerably. We use data derived from the Colonial Reports (Koloniale Verslagen) and from the recently digitised civil registration data. Whenever possible, we apply the cause-specific excess mortality approach to estimate the number of fatalities caused by the epidemic. Alternatively, all-cause excess mortality will be calculated. We estimate that the 1918–19 influenza caused about 2,200 deaths in Suriname and around 210 deaths on the Dutch Caribbean islands. In Suriname, contract labourers from the Dutch East Indies and from British India had higher influenza-related mortality rates than the creole population originating from the African continent. As influenza was endemic in Suriname, the creole population might have been better protected than the Asian contract labourers against the 1918–19 influenza.