Jirdes Winther Baxter, 101, Dies; Last Survivor of Epidemic in Alaska
The New York Times••nation
Key Points:
- Jirdes Winther Baxter, the last known survivor of the 1925 diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska, died on January 5 in Juneau at the age of 101.
- The 1925 epidemic led to a famous sled dog relay covering nearly 700 miles to deliver life-saving serum to the isolated town.
- Jirdes was hospitalized with diphtheria at just 11 months old on January 30, 1925, during the outbreak.
- Her death was confirmed by her son, Fred J. Baxter, who holds medical records from the epidemic.
