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1793 Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic: 5,000 Deaths (10% of Population)

Summer–Fall 1793: Yellow fever (mosquito-borne flavivirus, Aedes aegypti) devastated Philadelphia (then US capital, pop. ~50,000).

  • Deaths: ~5,000 (10%).
  • Fleeing: 20,000+ (including Washington, Jefferson).
  • Response: Dr. Benjamin Rush advocated aggressive bloodletting/purging (harmful); free Black community (Absalom Jones, Richard Allen) nursed the sick.
  • End: Frost killed mosquitoes.

Shaped early US public health, led to first board of health, and influenced capital relocation to DC.

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