Typhoid Fever in Porto Moniz (1943)

Abstract

This study examines the outbreak of typhoid fever that affected the municipality of Porto Moniz, on the island of Madeira, between April and December 1943 – an event unexplored in regional historiography. Adopting a micro-historical approach, it seeks to understand how this public health crisis exposed structural vulnerabilities, from deficient sanitation to the limited institutional response. Drawing on a diverse documentary corpus – including medical, administrative, and periodical sources – it reconstructs the epidemiological and social context. One must begin with a geographical, socioeconomic and sanitary overview of the area, proceed with the contextualisation of typhoid fever as an infectious disease, and culminate with the analysis of the epidemic focus, the prophylactic measures adopted, and their outcomes. The study concludes that, despite local constraints, the coordinated intervention of health professionals was crucial for the effective containment of the outbreak. It also reflects on the absence of collective memory regarding such episodes, highlighting the relevance of incorporating public health history into broader historical narratives.

Keywords: Typhoid Fever; Epidemic; Porto Moniz; Vaccination.