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? How Did We Kill Smallpox? - https://youtu.be/zi5HIMgQCEA Sign Up For The Seeker Newsletter Here - http://bit.ly/1UO1PxI Read More: Patient Zero: The origins of disease http://blogs.plos.org/publichealth/2013/05/07/patient-zero-the-origins-of-disease/ "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 https://www.seeker.com/hivs-patient-zero-wrongly-blamed-for-aids-epidemic-2066088202.html "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 https://www.seeker.com/these-three-diseases-could-be-the-next-global-epidemic-2201868621.html "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." ____________________ Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website http://www.seeker.com/shows/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=seeker Subscribe now! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=dnewschannel Seeker on Twitter http://twitter.com/seeker Trace Dominguez on Twitter https://twitter.com/tracedominguez Seeker on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SeekerMedia/ Seeker http://www.seeker.com/ This episode of Seeker was hosted by Trace Dominguez. Written by: Lauren Ellis