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Public showing of new PBS NOVA film: The Most Dangerous Woman in America--The Story of Mary Mallon, aka Typhoid Mary.

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National Institutes of Health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2004

National Library of Medicine
Robert Mehnert
Kathy Cravedi
(301) 496-6308
publicinfo@nlm.nih.gov

(Bethesda, Md.)--A PBS/NOVA production, "The Most Dangerous Woman in America," supported in part by a grant from the National Library of Medicine, will air nationwide on the PBS NOVA program October 12, 2004 at 8:00 p.m. The National Library of Medicine is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The one-hour show is based on a celebrated medical case from the early 20th century that deals with issues that reverberate today. Mary Mallon, an Irish immigrant known as "Typhoid Mary," was a public health menace that gripped the nation then much as today we deal with West Nile virus, mad cow disease, and AIDS.

"We think the issues raised by Typhoid Mary are relevant in today's world," said Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg, director of the National Library of Medicine. "Infectious diseases are still very much with us, and we continue to face issues such as confidentiality and how far society can go to protect itself."

The program is based on the highly praised book, Typhoid Mary: Captive to the Public's Health, by Judith Walzer Leavitt, a professor of medical history and women's studies at the University of Wisconsin Medical School.

To briefly summarize the story: In August of 1906, a mysterious cluster of typhoid fever cases erupted in a very unlikely setting--a summer house in wealthy Oyster Bay, Long Island. Typhoid fever, a bacterial disease spread by poor sanitation, was associated with slums and poverty, not wealthy communities. About 10 percent of those infected, died.

The owner hired a civil engineer, (George Soper) to discover the source of the disease, and the engineer soon focused on the new cook, Mary Mallon. In tracing her employment history, Soper found that typhoid outbreaks followed her wherever she was employed.

Soper attempted to persuade Mellon to get tested, but she was not cooperative. It took the combined efforts of a health department worker, Dr. Josephine Baker, and five police officer to arrest Mallon. It was discovered that though Mallon was healthy, she carried the typhoid bacilli.

The dramatization stars Marian Tomas Griffin (As the World Turns) as Mary Mallon, Jere Shea (Tony nomination for Guys and Dolls) as George Soper, and Natalie Rose as Dr. Josephine Baker. The film was written and directed by Nancy Porter and produced by Peter Frumkin.

Nancy Porter Productions, Inc., recipient of the grant, has made available a copy of "The Most Dangerous Woman in America" for viewing at the National Library of Medicine on October 12 at 2:00 p.m. in the Library's Lister Hill Center Auditorium. Dr. Lindberg and Ms. Porter will be on hand to introduce the program. Seating is limited.

Note to Editors: A press release about the program and photographs are at http://pressroom.wgbh.org/pages/nova.html

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Last updated: 08 October 2004
First published: 08 October 2004
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