Hepatitis in the Contemporary South - A Conspiracy?
Date: Mon, 6 May 1996
From: Cheryl Thurber
Subject: Contemporary South/Hepatitis/conspiracy query
Memphis for the past couple of years has been experiencing increased incidents of Hepatitis A. This has been particularly strong amongst young children. Childcare centers and improper handwashing had been major culprits in the spread. The health dept had been offering free shots in the high incident areas, but that was ineffective. In addition to the offer of free innoculation, shots are being required for school children in the areas of highest incident. (the shots are still free in those areas.) The problem is that these have been predominately African American schools, corresponding with the incidence of the Hepatitis. (The paper printed a map recently showing the breakdown of incidence.) There is now an effort by some members of the black community (others are supporting it and many of the people from the health dept administering the shots are black) to stop the shots and the requirement of innoculation.
This is being viewed by those opposed as an example of race targeting and has brought conspiracy ideas into play.
Is this happening in other areas? Either the Hepatitis or the conspiracy theory reaction?
Cheryl Thurber
chethur@aol.com
Date: Tue, 7 May 1996
From: David Herr
Subject: Contemporary South/Hepatitis/conspiracy - 2 responses
Theories that HIV was developed by the government and targeted at blacks are widespread (see Stephen Thomas and Sandra Quinn's article in the American Journal of Public Health, November 1991, "The Tuskegee Syphilis Study, 1932 to 1972: implications HIV education and AIDS risk education programs in the black community." and Herek and Capitanio's article on Conspiracies in AIDS Education and Prevention, August 1994.)
In Baltimore recently I believe there was a controversy about having school-based clinics supply birth control, particularly Norplant, to the students. Baltimore schools are majority black, and the provision of the birth control was seen by some as an effort to cut down on the black population.
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study in particular shows that such fears are not always irrational.
Steve Hirsch
Health Information Specialist
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Becky Firth writes:
Way up here in the Pacific Northwest, they are innoculating all of the 8th graders in several surrounding school districts. Our parents can opt to not have their children have the shots, but very few have done so. Our rural area is Caucasian with about 20% Hispanic. We have no reaction from the public, and it was publicized in the paper.
Date: Wed, 8 May 1996
From: Scot French
Subject: Contemporary South/Hepatitis/conspiracy
For historical background, you might take a look at Patricia Turner, _I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture_ (Berkeley: University of California Press, c1993).
Scot French
University of Virginia
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996
From: Cheryl Thurber
Subject: Contemporary South/Hepatitis/conspiracy
I am familiar with Turner's, Heard it Through the Grapevine. That is why I was wondering if the Memphis Hepatitis story was happening in other places as well. Memphis is certainly a city where rumor, hopes, and irrationality frequently play a major part, particularly in interracial politics.
Cheryl Thurber
chethur@aol.com
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