Patient Zero

This episode of Radiolab, titled "Patient Zero," embarks on a fascinating journey to uncover the origins of various phenomena, from deadly diseases to cultural gestures. Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, along with a cast of expert guests, explore the concept of "patient zero"—the first cause or the "but for"—and how identifying it can illuminate complex narratives.

The Enduring Mystery of Typhoid Mary

The episode begins with a deep dive into the story of Typhoid Mary, whose real name was Mary Mallon. Radiolab producer Sean Cole recounts the tale, which starts in 1906 in Oyster Bay, New York. A wealthy family vacationing there falls ill with a mysterious fever. Judy Leavitt, a professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin, explains that six out of eleven family members, along with a maid, contracted the disease. The symptoms included diarrhea or constipation, but the fever was the most immediate concern. The illness was identified as typhoid.

Initially, health officials, including sanitary engineer George Soper, believed that illness stemmed from unsanitary conditions. Soper, a go-to guy for outbreaks, meticulously investigated the house and water supply but found nothing amiss. His investigation then turned to the family and their staff. Eventually, he discovered a pattern: several outbreaks over the years, all linked to the same cook, Mary Mallon.

Mary Mallon's most famous dish was peach Melba, made with raw peaches. This detail was crucial, as raw fruit provided a perfect medium for bacteria. When Soper confronted Mary in her kitchen, she vehemently denied being sick, as she felt perfectly healthy. She was, in fact, the first documented case in North America of a healthy carrier—someone who carries and transmits a disease without experiencing symptoms herself. This concept was revolutionary and deeply unsettling at the time.

Mary was forcibly isolated on North Brother Island, a quarantine facility for contagious diseases. She was held there for three years, during which her stool samples were taken three times a week. Sometimes she tested negative, sometimes positive, leading to the understanding that she was an "intermittent carrier." She was eventually released after promising never to cook again. However, five years later, a new typhoid outbreak occurred at a maternity hospital. Josephine Baker, who had previously apprehended Mary, found her working as a cook there. Mary was again sent to North Brother Island, where she spent the last six years of her life, dying there after a stroke.

Krulwich questions why Mary was the only one isolated when hundreds of other healthy carriers were identified in New York. The answer, according to the experts, was more about making people feel safe than actually making them safe. Mary became a symbol, a scapegoat for a terrifying and poorly understood disease.