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Typhoid Mary: Captive to the Public Health

Rodney Parker

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Mary Mallon, better known as Typhoid Mary, was the first person in the United States to be identified as a healthy carrier of the typhoid fever bacteria. She was born in Ireland in 1869 and immigrated to the United States in 1883. She worked as a cook in New York City for many years, and during that time she infected dozens of people with typhoid fever, killing several of them. In 1907, she was finally identified as a carrier of the disease and was quarantined on North Brother Island in the East River. She remained there for the rest of her life, dying in 1938.

Typhoid Mary: Captive to the Public's Health

by Judith Walzer Leavitt

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6455 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Print length	:	356 pages

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that can cause a high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, it can lead to death. The bacteria are spread through contaminated food or water. Mary Mallon was a healthy carrier of the bacteria, meaning that she did not show any symptoms of the disease, but she could still transmit it to others.

The case of Typhoid Mary raised a number of important questions about public health. How should we deal with people who are healthy carriers of diseases? Should they be quarantined? What are the ethical implications of quarantining someone who is not sick?

The case of Typhoid Mary also highlights the importance of good hygiene and sanitation. Typhoid fever is a preventable disease, and it is important to take steps to protect yourself from infection. These steps include:

Washing your hands frequently with soap and water
Drinking only clean water
Eating only cooked food
Getting vaccinated against typhoid fever

Typhoid Mary's story is a fascinating and tragic one. It is a reminder of the importance of public health and the need to take steps to protect ourselves from disease.