The most important part of the epidemic was from 1889 to 1890, but there were two other large parts from 1890 to 1892. This epidemic caused approximately 1 million deaths worldwide. It was one of the most serious epidemics in the 19th century. In 1889, the disease was seen in St. Petersburg in the Russian Empire. People also became sick in Canada, Greenland and other places. Historians believe this was the first pandemic to spread much on railroads. It spread to much of Europe.