With the threat of winter flu upon us and recent news of an increase in children contracting measles, Tim and Lisa talked epidemics this morning on 2SER breakfast. It is a topic close to Lisa's mind with her current research into the history of disease in the Redfern and Waterloo areas. In built up areas, diseases and epidemics can spread rapidly and so they are very much a part of the history of our cites. The Spanish Influenza, a massive pandemic between 1918-19, killed more people globally than WWI – a sobering thought. Some of the epidemics we've had in Sydney include a massive outbreak of measles in 1866, one of several recurring outbreaks throughout the 19th century. From 1866–87, estimates of up to 80 per cent of children in Sydney under the age of five were affected. What is interesting about this outbreak compared to community responses to the recent rise in measles in children is that it didn't raise much concern. Measles was such a common childhood illness during summer that it didn't cause public panic despite the huge numbers of sick children. A smallpox epidemic in the 1880s, however, was a different matter altogether. Smallpox was considered an Old World disease and was quite contagious. The level of public panic led to the establishment of new hospitals like The Little Bay Sanatorium Coast Hospital (which no longer exists) as well as improvements in quarantine procedures and government responses to dealing with difficult epidemics —all of which came in handy when the Bubonic plague broke out in Sydney in 1900.

Most people still associate the plague with the Rocks in Sydney but it was actually more widespread, affecting the wharf area around Sydney harbour as well as working class suburbs. In scale it wasn't huge – around 100 people died - but the public hysteria associated with it meant that it became a social crisis. People still didn't understand how it was passed on and this led to scapegoating of Chinese and Syrians communities. The Dictionary has a great article on epidemics by Garry Wotherspoon. Don't be afraid to read it – it is a fascinating account of how different diseases have impacted on Sydney since 1788. You can read it here. Stay tuned for more unique Sydney stories with Lisa next week on 2SER when she joins Mitch Byatt who is taking over from Tim Higgins for breakfast. Thanks Tim – it's been a pleasure working with you and the Dictionary team wish you the very best for those post-4am mornings ahead.