Memphis yellow fever epidemic-1878
By- Sara Sansom
1st victim
One this day in 1878, Kate Bionda, a restaurant owner, dies of yellow fever in Memphis, Tennessee, after a man who had escaped a quarantined steamboat visited her restaurant. The disease spread rapidly and the resulting epidemic emptied the city.
Out breaks
In the 19th century, it was not known that mosquitoes carried yellow fever. New York City, Philadelphia and New Orleans all experienced serious epidemics that spread rapidly and killed thousands. Memphis, a city of 50,000, had outbreaks in 1855, 1867 and 1873, with each outbreak getting progressively worse. Those who came down with yellow fever were quarantined in an effort to prevent the disease from spreading. Often, they were made to wear yellow jackets as a means of identification.
affects of the the yellow fever
After a very short remission a more intense stage often follows during which the victim vomits blood and suffers liver and internal failure. jaundice is also a typical symptom which is how yellow fever got its name. its a victim dies it usually happen within 2 weeks survivors can feel the effects for months.
People left
Most of the residents who were able to fled the city. Twenty-five thousand people picked up and left within a week. For the most part, it was the African-American residents who remained in town, although they died at a much lower rate than the white residents who contracted the disease. An average of 200 people died every day through September. There were corpses everywhere and near continual ringing of funeral bells. Half of the city’s doctors died.
In the 19th century it was not known that mosquitoes carried yellow fever . New York city,Philadelphia and new Orleans all experienced serious epidemics that spread rapidly and killed thousands Memphis,a city of 50,000, had outbreaks in 1855,1867 and 1873,with each outbreak getting progressively worse. those who came down with yellow fever were quarantined an effort to prevent the disease from spreading often they were made to acar yellow jackets as a means of identification.
How many people suvived
The epidemic ended with the first frost in October, but by that time, 20,000 people in the Southeast had died and another 80,000 had survived infection. In the aftermath, open sewers and privies were cleaned up, destroying the breeding grounds for mosquitoes and preventing further epidemics.
Today, yellow-fever outbreaks still occur in Africa and South America.