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Robert Koch - A Theory of Germs
Robert Koch establish that a particular germ can cause specific diseases. By using a microscope, he examined the blood of a cow that died from anthrax. He then infected mice with the anthrax from the cow and saw the mice also developed anthrax. This led to the criteria that determines a certain germ can cause a particular disease. (National Academies Press (US), 2004) -
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Octave Gengou and Jules Bordet from the Pasteur Institute of Brussels successfully grew pertussis bacterium by using artificial media. The pertussis bacterium was renamed to Bordetella pertussis honoring Jules Bordet. After using their technique, other scientists began to develop the pertussis vaccine. The vaccine for Whooping Cough was licensed in the United States in 1914 but did not become routinely used until 1949. (What Is the History of Pertussis Vaccine Use in America?, 2018) -
Spanish Flu
The Spanish flu was an avian-borne flu that caused 50 million deaths worldwide. Within the United States 675,oo people died from this flu. The Spanish flu was known as the second deadliest plagues in history. (Pandemics That Changed History: Timeline, 2021) -
Polio
A polio epidemic occurred between 1948-1955. Polio is caused by a viruses that affects the nerves in the spinal cord. During this time people avoided crowds because they were concerned about getting polio. In 1952 Dr. Jonas E. Salk and colleagues developed the polio vaccine. By 1961 Dr. Albert B. Sabin developed the second polio vaccine. (History of Rubella: Outbreaks and Vaccine Timeline, n.d.) -
Measles
In 1963 Dr. Enders and his colleagues develop the measles vaccine (Edmonston B). There were more than 500,000 cases of measles in the 20th century. (History of Measles: Outbreaks and Vaccine Timeline, n.d.) -
Mumps
Mumps is an illness from a virus that affects the glands on the side of our face. It can become swollen and painful. They have caused deafness. In 1971, measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines were combined into the MMR vaccine. (History of Rubella: Outbreaks and Vaccine Timeline, n.d.) -
Rubella Vaccine in United States
Rubella is a viral infection known for a distinctive re rash. The Rubella Vaccine became licensed in the United States. There was about 47,000 cases of Rubella reported in the United States with the 20th century as well as three cases in the year 2023. (History of Rubella: Outbreaks and Vaccine Timeline, n.d.) -
HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS is a immune destroying disease that takes over an individuals body. AIDS was first discovered within American gay communities. There are treatments for the disease to slow down the progress, but there is still no known cure. (Pandemics That Changed History: Timeline, 2021) -
West Nile Virus in United States (First Case)
West Nile virus is spread through the bit of an infected mosquito. There are not preventable vaccines or medications to treat it. (About West Nile, 2024) The first case of the West Nile virus was in 1999 in New York City and rapidly spread across the county. (West Nile Virus, n.d.) -
H1N1 (Swine Flu)
H1N1 was also known as the swine flu. It got this name because it is a virus that circulated from pigs. It began spreading in Mexica then spread to the United States. (Klobucista, 2020) -
Ebola
Ebola is a rare virus that is severe disease that lead to death for some that contracted the virus. This virus causes hemorrhaging to the body from the inside. It mainly affected Africa, but also spread to the Unites States and Europe. (Klobucista, 2020) -
COVID-19 or SARS-Co-V-2
COVID-19 is a virus that is caused by SARS-CoV-2. It is a virus that started out in China, but rapidly spread to almost all countries. By December of 2020 there was a vaccine that was developed to fight the COVID-19 virus. (Pandemics That Changed History: Timeline, 2021)