Cholera and yellow fever in the state of Colima, Mexico (1880-1895)

Abstract

This article describes how cholera and yellow fever affected public health in the state of Colima, where its proliferation was associated with certain hygienic conditions. In the case of cholera, it was the epidemic of 1885 that acquired the greatest presence in the Colima press. On the other hand, yellow fever began to have prominence in 1884, being described as the “terrible epidemic”. The explanation of the origin and spread of these diseases, was based on the miasmatic theory, and was disseminated by the press and municipal and state documents. In conclusion, the way in which epidemics were understood by politicians and doctors of the time, favored the implementation of specific hygienic measures.