Mary Mallon
Mary Mallon (pronounced: Mary Mall-on) also known as Typhoid Mary was an Irish-born cook believed to have infected 51 people, three of whom died, with typhoid fever, and the first person in the United States identified as an asymptomatic carrier of the disease.
Etymology
The name "Typhoid Mary" has since become synonymous with anyone who, knowingly or not, spreads disease or some other undesirable thing. The term is derived from the name of Mary Mallon, who was an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever.
Biography
Mary Mallon was born in 1869 in Cookstown, County Tyrone, in what is now Northern Ireland. She emigrated to the United States in 1883. She lived with her aunt and uncle for a time and worked as a maid, but eventually became a cook, a profession in high demand among the wealthy families of New York City.
Typhoid Fever
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that can lead to high fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. It is caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. The infection is often passed on through contaminated food and drinking water, and it is more prevalent in places where handwashing is less frequent. It can also be passed on by carriers who do not know they carry the bacteria.
Asymptomatic Carrier
An asymptomatic carrier is a person or organism infected with an infectious disease agent, but displays no symptoms. Although unaffected by the disease themselves, carriers can transmit it to others. Mary Mallon was the first person in the United States identified as an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mary Mallon
- Wikipedia's article - Mary Mallon
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