Epidemic, Atlantic economy and social learning. Yellow fever in Spain

Abstract

This work analyzes the yellow fever outbreaks that affected southern Spain during the 18th century and the first decades of the 19th century. The link between yellow fever and the development of the Atlantic commercial system, as well as its influence on the sanitary and hygienic reforms of the following years. The results show how the recommendations of the experts, together with the experience of previous outbreaks encouraged strategies to reduce exposure to the pathogen, among which the flight of infected populations stood out. The differences in the ability to avoid contagion resulted in a higher lethality of the disease among the less privileged socioeconomic classes.