Yellow Fever Construction

About Yellow Fever Construction

Yellow fever devastated construction of the Panama Canal. The disease killed thousands of workers in Panama and in earlier French canal attempts. Walter Reed proved that yellow fever was transmitted by mosquitoes. William Gorgas implemented mosquito control measures in Panama including screening, drainage, and oiling of standing water. These measures dramatically reduced yellow fever cases and enabled American completion of the canal. The success of mosquito control in Panama influenced tropical medicine and public health worldwide. The yellow fever vaccine developed by Max Theiler in the 1930s provided a more sustainable solution. The Panama experience demonstrated the importance of vector control as a complement to vaccination. Gorgass mosquito control program is considered one of the greatest public health achievements in history. The Panama Canal would not have been possible without yellow fever control.