Plagues in the Nation

Download or read book Plagues in the Nation written by Polly J. Price and published by Beacon Press. This book was released on 2022-05-10 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sheds light on the US government’s response to epidemics through history—with larger conclusions about COVID-19 and reforms needed before the next plague. In this narrative history of the US through major outbreaks of contagious disease, from yellow fever to the Spanish flu, from HIV/AIDS to Ebola, Polly J. Price examines how law and government affected the outcome of epidemics—and how those outbreaks in turn shaped our government. Price presents a fascinating history that has never been fully explored and draws larger conclusions about the gaps in our governmental and legal response. Plagues in the Nation examines how our country learned—and failed to learn—how to address the panic, conflict, and chaos that are the companions of contagion, what policies failed America again and again, and what we must do better next time.