Ch. 4 Patient Zero

Front

What is a healthy carrier?

Back

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

Front

How did the term 'Typhoid Mary' originate?

Back

The term 'Typhoid Mary' originated from the case of Mary Mallon, a healthy carrier of typhoid fever, who was identified as a significant source of infection in New York City.

Front

What impact did the typhoid epidemic have on public perception of disease?

Back

The typhoid epidemic changed public perception by showing that diseases could affect anyone, regardless of their social status or health.

Front

What role did newspapers play during the typhoid epidemic?

Back

Newspapers played a significant role by reporting extensively on Mary Mallon's case, which influenced public opinion and awareness about the disease.

Front

What does the phrase 'household name' mean?

Back

A 'household name' refers to a person or thing that is very well known by the general public.

Front

How did Mary Mallon's actions affect her public image?

Back

Mary Mallon's fierce defense of herself contributed to a negative public image, leading to her being viewed as a problem case by health officials.

Front

What was Dr. Baker's significance in the typhoid epidemic?

Back

Dr. Baker was significant because she was the only female doctor in the NYC Health Department and was tasked with finding and testing Mary Mallon.

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

What was one major change in public health policy after the typhoid epidemic?

Back

One major change was the increased focus on sanitation and the understanding of how diseases could spread through carriers.

Front

Why was Mary Mallon detained despite being healthy?

Back

Mary Mallon was detained because she was a healthy carrier of typhoid fever, posing a risk of spreading the disease to others.