Fevers and flu were common, mostly caused by poor sanitation and cross infection, and, until the arrival of antibiotics in 1945, pneumonia was often a fatal disease.
In May 1919, an Italian miner called Luigi Morelli, contracted ‘broncho pneumonia influenza and died within six days. Eight more cases were diagnosed in rapid succession. The Public Health Board placed Gwalia and Leonora under quarantine. The town was isolated from its nearest town, Malcolm, and all occupants, including visitors, were confined, with passenger traffic by road and rail blocked. A fine was instituted from £5 – £30 for people going beyond the 3 mile limit. 
The local headmaster was required to report any absences from school and a notice in the local paper urged sick people to report to the doctor without delay.
Gwalia’S State Hotel, became the isolation hospital with patients transferred from the Leonora District Hospital. People who became ill in their homes or camps were not admitted to the isolation hospital unless their condition became critical.
The following are those who are buried in the Leonora Cemetery and succumbed to the dreaded Flu during these weeks.
ALBERTANI Pierina, d 1 Jul 1919, Temporary Hospital, Gawlia, Housewife, 37yrs, Cause:- Influenza, Broncho Pneumonia, Father:- Jianco? BASELLI (Farmer) Mother:- Maria POPE, Born Lombro Italy, in WA 10yrs, Married to Gotardo ALBERTANI in Cortino, Italy at age 18yrs, Children:- Maria 17yrs, Martin Bortolo 10yrs, Francis C 7yrs, Jacome Armidio 6yrs, Jack 5yrs, Luigi Pietro 9 days, buried Leonora Cemetery.
DELLABONA Giaconeo, d 2 Jun 1919, Leonora Hospital, Occ:-Miner, 32yrs, Cause:- Influenza, Broncho Pneumonia, Father:- Giovanni DELLABONA (Labourer) Mother:- Giovannia Dellabona, born Cologna Italy, In WA 4yrs, buried Leonora Cemetery.
FOPPOLI Bernardo, d 10 Jun 1919, Temporary Hospital Gwalia, Occ:-Miner, 38yrs, Cause:- Influenza, Broncho Pneumonia, Father:- Alberto FOPPOLI, Mother:- Guiseppina FOPPOLI, buried Leonora Cemetery.
LAZZARINI Giovanni, d 12 Jun 1919, Temporary Hospital Gwalia, Occ:-Miner, 37yrs, Cause:- Influenza, Broncho Pneumonia. Father:- Impolito LAZZARINI, born Mazza Di Valtellina, Italy, In WA 17yrs, buried Leonora Cemetery.
MORELLI Luigi, d 31 May 1919, Leonora Hospital, Occ:- Miner, 28yrs, Cause:- Influenza, Pneumonia, Father:- Pietro MORELLI (Carpenter) Mother:- Margaret M??? born Pratto, Argentina, In WA 5yrs, buried Leonora Cemetery.
OBRYAN/OBRIAN Sarah Rose Ann, d 20 Sep 1919, Temporary Hospital Gwalia, Housewife 45yrs, Cause:- Influenza Pneumonia, Father:- Thomas GALLOWAY (Grazier), born NSW, In NSW 29yrs, In VIC 2yrs, In WA 14yrs, Married to Michael Joseph OBRYAN in Wilcania NSW at age 17yrs, Children:- William Lenny Joseph 24yrs, Martha Elizabeth 20yrs, Mary Ann 17yrs, George Joseph 13yrs, Deceased 3 males and 1 female, (See Sarah Rose Ann SALIGARI) buried Leonora Cemetery.
SALAGARI Sarah Rose Ann, d 20 Jun 1919, Temporary Hospital Gwalia, Housewife, 27yrs, Cause:- Influenza, Broncho Pneumonia, Father:- Michael Joseph OBRIEN (Teamster) Mother:- Sarah Rose Ann GALLOWAY (also Dies 20/09/1919), born Little Henley NSW, In NSW 13yrs, In WA 14yrs, Married to Joseph SALIGARI in Fremantle WA at age 27yrs, No children, buried Leonora Cemetery.
ZAMPATTI Bortolo, d 4 Jun 1919, Leonora Hospital, Occ:-Miner, 34yrs, Cause:- Influenza, Broncho Pneumonia, Father:- Clementi ZAMPATTI (Farmer) Mother:- Mariana CONFERTI, born Verso del Uglio Italy, In WA 8yrs, buried Leonora Cemetery.
This quarantine remained in place for a period of six weeks.
Moya Sharp
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Another very informative post Moya, imagine how many of these people would have survived with todays medicine tecniques etc.
Hi Phil I think all of our antibiotics and medications sometimes make us more susceptible to illness, we have no natural immunity. I know that I wouldnt have made it this far due to a burst appendix 15yrs ago and my youngest son would have been a victim of infant mortality as he wouldnt feed properly.