Typhoid
The past, present, and future of an ancient disease
by Claas Kirchhelle
An exploration of the past, present and future of typhoid control using both literary and real-life figures
Draws from the award-winning Typhoidland exhibitions, dispelling the myth of typhoid as an eradicated disease
More relevant than ever in a post-COVID world
Long-listed for the 2023 British Society for the History of Science (BSHS) Hughes Prize for the best book in the history of science, which is accessible to a wide audience of non-specialists
A killer of paupers, princes and presidents, typhoid was an invisible threat in Victorian times and remains dangerous in many areas today.
In this exploration of the past, present and future of typhoid control, Dr Claas Kirchhelle uses the stories of both literary characters and real-life figures to trace typhoid’s transformation from a mysterious scourge into a controllable microbial threat. Drawing on the award-winning Typhoidland exhibitions, the author dispels the myth of typhoid as an eradicated disease and shows how cutting-edge vaccines and collective international action offer new hope amidst surging drug resistance – a subject that has gained new relevance in a post-COVID world.