Who is Wilmer Krusen from the nonfiction book, The Great Influenza?

Wilmer Krusen was the director of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Charities. Krusen is significant because he did so little to protect the city from the impending epidemic. In fact, he denied that the flu posed any sort of threat to Philadelphia. Even though Lewis suggested that the city be put under quarantine, Krusen only started a campaign against spitting, coughing, and sneezing. When soldiers began dying, Krusen lied to reporters and told them that the men had not died of the flu. Even though Krusen was pressured to cancel a Liberty Loan parade scheduled in Philadelphia, Krusen decided to go ahead with the celebration. Two days after the parade, Krusen announced the epidemic was present in the city.

Krusen did redeem himself somewhat after the citizens in Philadelphia took charge of the Council of National Defense to help the people of the city. Krusen cooperated with that group by allowing them to employ the nurses he had at his disposal. He additionally requested that doctors not yet sent overseas to help soldiers be returned to Philadelphia.