The Hunt for Patient Zero Is Important But Impossible

Finding the source of a disease outbreak requires intensive detective work from health experts. But is finding Patient Zero even possible?
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Patient Zero: The origins of disease
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"Dr Sara Baker was sent to Mary Mallon's house, as it was felt that a female doctor may be more persuasive than a male. After being refused again, Dr Baker went to Mary's workplace with police officers, and had her arrested. Mary was tested, deemed to be a carrier, and placed in isolation on North Brother Island."
HIV's 'Patient Zero' Wrongly Blamed for AIDS Epidemic
"As the scientists conducted patient interviews to reconstruct their social network and trace the infection -- not yet known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS -- back to it source, one man in particular came up repeatedly: Gaetan Dugas."
These Three Diseases Could Be the Next Global Epidemic
"With the world still reeling from outbreaks of deadly Ebola and baby-deforming Zika, governments and charities launched a $460-million (431 million-euro) initiative to 'outsmart' infectious epidemics."
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This episode of Seeker was hosted by Trace Dominguez.
Written by: Lauren Ellis