How imperialism, slavery, and war shaped epidemiology - The Lancet
▻https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02216-9/abstract
While Downs’ narrative focuses on the differences between the British and American epidemiological underpinnings, historians may question the divide he presents. Given that race and sanitary environments were intertwined in medical discussions even within British circles at the time, the differences between the two camps are perhaps overstated in his account.
Nevertheless, Maladies of Empire is a powerful and timely reminder that the advancement of medical knowledge about infectious diseases could not have been possible without the suffering of people of colour.
Not only does such a narrative shed light on the violent foundations of disease control interventions and public health initiatives, but it also implores us to address their inequities in the present. At a time when low-income and middle-income countries struggle for access to vaccines in the COVID-19 pandemic, such an endeavour could not be more urgent.