Thread by @jasoncrawford

The last time the US reacted this strongly to an disease was probably polio, with the worst epidemics occurring between 1916 and 1954.

Here are some remarkable excerpts from David Oshinsky's book *Polio: An American Story*.

A bit of context: polio was somewhat the opposite of #COVID19 or the flu. It disproportionately struck the young, rather than the old, and it peaked in summer.

It killed many, but many more who survived were paralyzed for life.

The sight, even the thought, of paralyzed children struck fear into the hearts of every American.

San Angelo, TX, implemented extreme “social distancing” during a 1949 outbreak. Theaters, swimming pools, bars, bowling alleys, even churches shut down. “People would not even shake hands.”

People didn't know what to do, and they grasped at straws: cleaning everything, killing insects, banning livestock. And there were fake products and quack medicine of course.

Like #COVID19, polio often killed by making it impossible to breathe, and the solution was a mechanical breathing aid—the “iron lung”. Hospital beds and equipment were crucial to saving lives.

Seeking a scapegoat, people pointed fingers across racial and cultural lines, using stereotypes instead of science:

Borders were closed—in 1916, the “borders” between New York City and surrounding towns!

My mind reels at the thought of armed policemen turning back cars from NYC.

And all of this over a disease that, in the end, only affected tens of thousands of people a year, and only killed thousands. More children died from accidents, or cancer.

Bottom line: People get *very* afraid during epidemics. They try anything that might work. And they quickly turn against each other.

Don't be these people. Don't panic, cancel meetings, stay home, and wash your hands.

All excerpts above from this book: rootsofprogress.org/books/polio-an…