Code Switch

With measles on the rise, what we can learn from past epidemics

Mar 26, 2025
Historian Edna Bonhomme, author of "A History of the World in Six Plagues," dives into the intersections of health and marginalized communities. She discusses the societal myths during the HIV-AIDS epidemic that shaped her childhood. The conversation examines lessons from past epidemics, the role of trust in public health, and critiques of governmental neglect. Bonhomme emphasizes the importance of learning from history to improve health strategies and highlights the need for inclusive healthcare practices for better community support.
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ANECDOTE

Edna Bonhomme's Childhood Illness

  • Edna Bonhomme's childhood typhoid fever in 1980s Miami led to feelings of confinement and loss of control.
  • This experience, coupled with the CDC's false accusations against Haitians during the AIDS epidemic, shaped her perspective on public health.
INSIGHT

Epidemics and Inequality

  • Epidemics often reveal and exacerbate existing societal inequalities.
  • The current political climate's abandonment of science, like reduced vaccination efforts, risks the reemergence of controlled diseases.
INSIGHT

Building Trust with Marginalized Communities

  • Mistrust in the medical establishment stems from historical and ongoing systemic inequities, not inherent skepticism.
  • Addressing this mistrust requires acknowledging past harms and investing in accessible healthcare and community-based solutions.
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