The Great Philadelphia Escape: How Long Did Folks Run from Fevers?
Ah, Philadelphia. City of brotherly love, cheesesteaks, and apparently, a rather enthusiastic exodus during a particularly nasty epidemic. We're talking about the yellow fever outbreak of 1793, folks, a doozy that had people hightailing it out of town faster than you can say "founding fathers fleeing."
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| How Long Did The Epidemic Last In Philadelphia |
So, how long did this feverish fiasco last?
Well, buckle up, because it wasn't exactly a quick summer cold. The nasty part of the epidemic raged from August 1st to around November 9th, 1793. That's roughly three whole months of chills, sweats, and a mass exodus that would make a zombie apocalypse look like a casual stroll through the park.
Think about it this way: imagine the Liberty Bell tolling not for freedom, but for folks fleeing the city with their furniture strapped to their fainting goats.
The Great Escape: When Leaving Town Became Trendy
By September, things were getting spicy. With deaths spiking and the city on the verge of anarchy, 20,000 people said "see ya later" to Philly. Even the fancy folks in Congress packed their powdered wigs and highfalutin' ideas and skedaddled.
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The city basically became a ghost town populated by the sick, the brave healthcare workers (seriously, those folks deserve a medal), and maybe a rogue squirrel or two.
Moral of the story? Don't mess with yellow fever. And if you do find yourself in a historical epidemic, pack light, because chances are you'll be hoofing it out of town soon enough.
Frequently Asked Questions (because we know you're curious):
How to outrun a fever?
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While outrunning a disease isn't exactly possible, social distancing during an epidemic is a good idea!
How to survive a historical exodus?
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Pack light, travel light, and maybe learn to yodel to barter with passing pioneers.
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How to avoid a historical epidemic?
Modern medicine is pretty darn good these days. Get your vaccinations, people!
How to tell if I have yellow fever?
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If you have a fever, chills, vomiting, and muscle aches, see a doctor immediately! Yellow fever is pretty rare these days, but better safe than sorry.
How long did it take Philadelphia to recover?
The city bounced back by December, but yellow fever outbreaks continued for a few more years. But hey, at least they had cheesesteaks, right?
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