Forum 5: Quarantine and Plague

Streaming Media

Document Type

Video

Publication Date

5-15-2020

Keywords

virology, plague, cholera, typhus, influenza, social reactions, disease

Abstract

In this session, medical historian Tricia Starks casts light on the present pandemic by reviewing four past outbreaks -- plague in the 14th-17th centuries, cholera in the 19th century, and typhus and influenza in the 20th century. She shows us that science and public health responses have improved, but troubling social reactions to disease and the infected have remained a historical constant. Starks asks if, in the popular mind, cleanliness is next to godliness and beauty is truth, how does this shape our views of and responses to the diseased and marginalized, especially in times of great social strain?

Comments

The captions accompanying these videos were generated automatically by YouTube software which may not accurately transcribe scientific, medical, and technical terms.

Please access this video within the information below

Share

COinS