The Revenge of Misery. The Epidemic of Exanthematic Typhus in Santiago de Chile, 1933-1937

Abstract

This article analyzes the medical and social conditions in which the exanthematic typhus epidemic developed in Chile during the 1930s. It considers the actions implemented by the health authority, their reception in the local community, and the strengths and deficits of the country in taking charge of the infections. The theoretical framework is based on the notions of poverty and health policies from a sociocultural perspective of diseases. Under this view, diseases are closely linked to people’s social and material life and the care systems treating them. The methodology consisted of analyzing documentary sources, including medical publications, health reports, the general media, and testimonies of social workers. We concluded that the epidemic outbreak was closely related to poverty and high levels of unhealthy conditions due to overcrowded households and the lack of basic hygienic services. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the article also shows the relevance of the discussion on the cultural aspects of diseases and their close connection with social inequality, the stigmatization attached to people in poverty, and the limitations of health policies to deal with uncertainty.