Pandemics Today and Yesterday

Yesterday - Diphtheria was king.

I intend to offer some brief, focused and poignant insights into a very broad range of contemporary and historical topics that will resonate in today’s world. Today, I decided to bring up a fascinating story that took place in 1925, involving an epidemic of diphtheria in Nome, Alaska. Notice that I said “epidemic,” not “pandemic,” because the former is restricted to a specific, well defined region (e.g. town, city, county or state); whereas, the latter, refers to a much larger area of impact, including entire countries, continents and the planet itself. This particular epidemic and its resolution were special because, although restricted to Nome, they captured the attention of our entire country and cities around the world. The grand and heroic story of Balto, the sled dog, who led his team and their mushers across hundreds of miles of Alaskan wilderness to rush life-saving relief to the citizens of Nome. And the story of how this wilderness path became route of the famous, annual Iditarod sled dog race organized to memorialize the courage of man and beast. Another special aspect of this epidemic related to the infectious agent. The diphtheria organism is a bacteria (like staph, strep, or anthrax), not a virus like smallpox, Ebola or the viral agent that causes COVID-19. In today’s world diphtheria can be treated with a number of antibiotics. In 1925, the only treatment was supportive or the use of a preparation called an “anti-toxin” that was supposed to counteract the bacterial secretions that cause disease, especially the inflammation of the lining of the throat that lead to airway closure and eventual painful suffocation.

In certain ways, there are aspects of today’s worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that resemble the diphtheria outbreak of 1925. Then, as now, we only have supportive and not extremely effective targeted treatment. Yes, we have anti-viral drugs (Remdesivir) and plenty of supportive options such as oxygen, ventilators, IV fluids and other medications to reduce inflammation such a IV Decadron (a powerful corticosteroid medication). But we have no vaccine and no real “silver bullets,” at least as yet.

For more JP TruDoc wisdom on diphtheria check out the link below:

https://truewestmagazine.com/article/the-great-race-of-mercy/

https://truewestmagazine.com/the-fastest-killer-in-the-old-west/