Ch. 4 Patient Zero

Front

What is a healthy carrier in the context of infectious diseases?

Back

A healthy carrier is an individual who carries a disease-causing organism but does not exhibit symptoms of the disease, yet can still spread it to others.

Front

Who was Mary Mallon, and why is she significant in the study of typhoid fever?

Back

Mary Mallon, also known as 'Typhoid Mary,' was the first identified asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever in the United States, highlighting the role of healthy carriers in disease transmission.

Front

What role did Dr. Baker play in the investigation of Mary Mallon's case?

Back

Dr. Baker was the only female doctor in the NYC Health Department at the time and was tasked with finding and testing Mary Mallon.

Front

How did the media influence public perception of Mary Mallon during the typhoid epidemic?

Back

The media sensationalized her case, coining the term 'Typhoid Mary,' which contributed to her being viewed negatively by the public.

Front

What was the impact of the phrase 'household name' in relation to Mary Mallon?

Back

The phrase 'household name' indicates that Mary Mallon became widely known to the public, often associated with the typhoid epidemic.

Front

What was one major change in public health understanding that resulted from the typhoid epidemic?

Back

The epidemic demonstrated that diseases could infect all kinds of people, challenging previous beliefs about who could be affected.

Front

What does the term 'epidemiologist' refer to?

Back

An epidemiologist is a public health professional who studies the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations.

Front

Why was Mary Mallon detained despite appearing healthy?

Back

Mary was detained because she was identified as a healthy carrier of typhoid fever, which posed a risk of spreading the disease to others.

Front

What does the word 'branded' imply in the context of Mary Mallon's treatment by doctors?

Back

The word 'branded' implies that Mary was labeled negatively by doctors, suggesting they viewed her as a problem rather than a patient.

Front

How did the concept of sanitation relate to the understanding of disease during the typhoid epidemic?

Back

The typhoid epidemic led to the realization that sanitation alone was not sufficient to prevent disease, as healthy carriers could still spread infections.