“‘Suspended at the Brink of Death’: Encephalitis Lethargica and Public Health, 1916-1931.”

Simone Caron, Wake Forest University

Encephalitis Lethargica has puzzled scientists since its widespread occurrence from 1916 to 1931. Sporadic cases still exist in the twenty-first century, yet researchers have still not determined a definitive cause. Given its uncertain nature in the era of modern medicine, one can imagine the panic that ensued during the epidemic in the World War I era. At that time, many scientists attributed its cause to the Kansas Influenza epidemic of 1918-1919. Scientists now doubt that connection. This paper does not seek to delve into the scientific discussions concerning encephalitis lethargica. Instead, it seeks to analyze how newspapers and public health bulletins covered the topic for public consumption. These publications sought to assure the public that there was no reason to panic; they did so by touting preventative health measures to protect the population. At the same time, however, news stories and health bulletins covered this disease’s connection not only to influenza, but also to typhoid and infantile paralysis. Such connections undermined the sense of security public health officials hoped to instill and ignited concern, if not panic, in many communities.

No extended abstract or paper available

 Presented in Session 11. Public Health from Venereal Disease to Covid