Fevered Cities: A History of Dengue Epidemics

A global history of dengue fever and humanity's ongoing struggle against this persistent disease. In Fevered Cities, Randall M. Packard explores the complex and evolving history of dengue fever, the world's most widespread mosquito-borne viral disease. From its early manifestations in the eighteenth century to its current prevalence across more than one hundred countries, this book traces how dengue emerged as a global health challenge shaped by ecological, social, and economic conditions. Packard examines the disease's spread through urban landscapes, focusing on specific cities like Philadelphia, Manila, Havana, and Rio de Janeiro to illustrate how local contexts have defined outbreaks and responses. He highlights the transformation of dengue from a poorly understood physiological ailment to a vector-borne disease tied to the Aedes aegypti mosquito, and later to more severe conditions like dengue hemorrhagic fever. As climate change expands the geographical range of mosquito habitats and global trade accelerates the movement of people and goods, this book explores the social inequities, unplanned urbanization, and environmental degradation that have made dengue increasingly difficult to control. From vector control campaigns to cutting-edge biotechnologies like genetically modified mosquitoes and vaccines, Packard charts humanity's attempts to combat this tenacious disease. Fevered Cities is an essential history for public health experts, historians, and anyone concerned with the intersection of disease, society, and the built environment.