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Typhoid Fever Outbreak
Mary Mallon was found to be a carrier of typhoid fever, but had no symptoms She was confined by the health department until she took legal action. This taught the importance of keeping track of carriers. -
Breastfeeding Study
Janet was the first women to receive a research scholarship. She researched the bacteriology and biochemistry of milk. After her research, she wrote a novel on a study that showed feeding babies breast milk made them gain weight faster than feeding them cows milk. This was the first time a cohort study was used. Janet was a big advocate for breastfeeding and prenatal service. -
Breastfeeding Study Continued
Later, Janet did another study that found women who did not have children or breastfeed had a greater risk of getting breast cancer. From this she noticed that genes can affect the risk of cancer. -
School of Hygiene and Public Health
This was the start of public health training. The Rockefeller Foundation funded John Hopkins University to start this program. From this, other universities started public health programs totaling to 29 universities by 1999. The way student in public health were also changed. Students were starting to get this as a primary degree over a graduate degree. -
School of Hygiene and Public Health Continued
These schools evolved to focus on the five key disciplines in public health. The disciplines include, biostatics, epidemiology, health services, health education, and environmental science. -
CDC
Alexander Landmuir began a disease surveillance system. This system tracked the trends in the occurrence of diseases. Later, this helped to uncover the cause of certain diseases. -
The Framingham Study
This was a study of cardiovascular disease. It showed scientists what the risk factors for heart disease are. A cohort design was used and it started with 5,209 people. It is currently on its third generation of participants. This was the start of routine doctor visits to check blood pressure, cholesterol levels, weight, smoking, and eating patterns. The study was initiated by the US Public Health Service. Scientists learned ways that different health conditions can affect risk of heart disease. -
The Framingham Study Continued
In the 1960s, 34 years after the study started, scientists found smoking to be a major risk for heart disease. It was found to be the prime factor to chronic cough and reduced vital capacity. Cigarette smoking was found to cause lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and was a big contributor to the annual death rate. -
Smoking and Lung Cancer
Several studies were done that showed the link between smoking and lung cancer. Case-control studies were done and Doll and Hill studies smoking rates among lung cancer patients. Wynder and Graham studied the quantity of tobacco smoked and the period of usage. -
Eradication of Malaria
In 1947, there were 15,000 malaria cases. By 1950, there were only 2,000 cases. Then in 1951, the US found ways to lower malaria cases and finally eliminate it. Ways malaria was eliminated was through insecticides, drainage ditches and window screens. -
Eradication of Malaria
Malaria had a comeback in hospitals as travelers brought the disease back from other parts of the world. By the 1970s there were a couple hundred cases back in the US. The numbers of malaria cases are found to be rather high as it is easily preventable. There is an anti-malaria medicine that people aren't using. -
Polio Vaccine
Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine and in 1954 it was tested. Later, Alfred Sabin created another vaccine that was based on a live virus. This vaccine was used to eradicate polio. -
Joseph L. Fleiss
Joseph is known for his work in mental health statistics. He made important contributions to analysis of diagnostic reliability, clinical trials, and categorical data. He was also head of the Division of Biostatics at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. -
Olli S. Miettinen
Olli provided the intellectual and conceptual groundwork that allowed epidemiological methods to transition from observational to analytical. The methods for comparison that he developed could be applied beyond public health. The methods that he used were referred to as theoretical epidemiology and they were widely taught -
Guinea Worm Disease
In 1980 the CDC initiated a campaign to eliminate Guinea worm disease. There were nearly 3.5 million cases world wide with a total of 20 countries affected. After elimination was initiated, the number of cases fell. As of 2012, there are only around 500 cases. -
SARS Coronavirus
SARS Coronavirus was first discovered in Asia. Guidance and surveillance was provided by the CDC. Clinical and lab evaluations were done along with reporting. From this, the source of the virus was discovered, and incubation period was determined. Isolation of patients helped lessen the spread of the disease. Contact tracing was also done to quarantine those in contact with the virus.
