"Spanish Flu": When Infectious Disease Names Blur Origins and Stigmatize Those Infected.

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  • Author(s): Hoppe T;Hoppe T
  • Source:
    American journal of public health [Am J Public Health] 2018 Nov; Vol. 108 (11), pp. 1462-1464. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Sep 25.
  • Publication Type:
    Historical Article; Journal Article
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: American Public Health Association Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 1254074 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1541-0048 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00900036 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: Washington, DC : American Public Health Association
      Original Publication: New York [etc.]
    • Subject Terms:
      Terminology as Topic*; Communicable Diseases/*history ; Global Health/*history ; Influenza Pandemic, 1918-1919/*history ; Travel/*history ; World Health Organization/*history ; Xenophobia/*history; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; United States/epidemiology
    • Abstract:
      Despite not originating in Spain, the 1918 influenza pandemic is commonly known as the "Spanish flu"-a name that reflects a tendency in public health history to associate new infectious diseases with foreign nationals and foreign countries. Intentional or not, an effect of this naming convention is to communicate a causal relationship between foreign populations and the spread of infectious disease, potentially promoting irrational fear and stigma. I address two relevant issues to help contextualize these naming practices. First is whether, in an age of global hyperinterconnectedness, fear of the other is truly irrational or has a rational basis. The empirical literature assessing whether restricting global airline travel can mitigate the global spread of modern epidemics suggests that the role of travel may be overemphasized. Second is the persistence of xenophobic responses to infectious disease in the face of contrary evidence. To help explain this, I turn to the health communication literature. Scholars argue that promoting an association between foreigners and a particular epidemic can be a rhetorical strategy for either promoting fear or, alternatively, imparting a sense of safety to the public.
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    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20180926 Date Completed: 20190911 Latest Revision: 20201101
    • Publication Date:
      20240105
    • Accession Number:
      PMC6187801
    • Accession Number:
      10.2105/AJPH.2018.304645
    • Accession Number:
      30252513