An expert legal review of the US government's response to epidemics through historywith larger conclusions about COVID-19, and reforms needed for the next plague
In this narrative history of the US through major outbreaks of contagious disease, from yellow fever to the Spanish flu, from HIV/AIDS to Ebola, Polly J. Price examines how law and government affected the outcome of epidemicsand how those outbreaks in turn shaped our government.
Price presents a fascinating history that has never been fully explored and draws larger conclusions about the gaps in our governmental and legal response. Plagues in the Nation examines how our country learnedand failed to learnhow to address the panic, conflict, and chaos that are the companions of contagion, what policies failed America again and again, and what we must do better next time.