The Haunting Abandoned Island In The Middle Of NYC

Typhoid Mary Dies On The Island

Mary Mallon’s legacy is a harsh one. The infections that she caused because of her refusal to believe that she was a typhoid carrier, killed at least three people. However, it’s estimated that she may have been the cause of over 50 deaths as tracking her total impact on public health was mired with problems.

In 1932, Mary was working as a technician on the island when she had a stroke which left her completely paralyzed. She died in 1938 of pneumonia. After her death, an autopsy discovered typhoid bacteria still happily living in her gallbladder. This was 100% proof of her carrier status.

Tuberculosis- Another Serious Problem

Tuberculosis, another serious disease treated on the island, is a bacterial infection which causes the destruction of lung tissue; it is spread from person to person by airborne means.

The disease can be vaccinated against and the vaccine is highly effective. However, again due to the costs of vaccination programs – many people are not immunized against tuberculosis even today. People who smoke or who have HIV are particularly at risk of become infected with tuberculosis. The disease can be treated through the use of antibiotics but there are growing numbers of antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis and in 2014 nearly 10 million people contracted tuberculosis and nearly 1.5 million people died of it.