I found the book boring at times with too much repetition and politics. There were a lot of other parts very interesting. If was found that Mary Mallon caused fewer cases and deaths from typhoid fever than other identified carriers. Mary was one among ten thousands of typhoid carriers in the twentieth century.Mary Mallon was also one among thousands who refused to cooperate with authorities to follow set restrictions. She was the only one stripped of her freedom for being a carrier of typhoid. Her name lives on as Typhoid Mary which must remind people that people who are infected whether it be Typhoid, HIV or TB are to be treated with respect and empathy.This the best book I have read about Mary Mallon.
Fascinating book--and situation. Of interest historically, legally, socially, medically . . .
What a disaster! Typhoid Mary was an Irish Immigrant cook and within a period of a few years infected 22 people with the deadly typhoid fever. She was tracked down and isolated until she died 30 years later. As a medical professional, I do not see her as being treated unfairly. I believe that being an intelligent woman that she knew the risks Involved in cooking for others and the second time cooking in a hospital under an assumed name that she must have known that she was wrong.However, I believe that others who were carriers should have been isolated as well. It is difficult to make a judgment on this case since we do not know all the facts and many years have passed.
But this book brings up an interesting question; what do we do with drug resistant TB cases and HIV today?
But this book brings up an interesting question; what do we do with drug resistant TB cases and HIV today?
