Phantom Plague
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Founder | Vidya Krishnan |
| Products | Non-fiction book |
Phantom Plague: How Tuberculosis Shaped our History is a 2022 non-fiction work authored by health journalist Vidya Krishnan. The book chronicles the evolution of tuberculosis from the 19th century through to modern times, emphasizing how flawed philanthropy, political factors, racism, and anti-science sentiments have perpetuated ongoing "medical apartheid."
Production
Krishnan dedicated seven years to crafting Phantom Plague, completing the manuscript both prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Summary
This volume explores tuberculosis' influence starting from the slums of 19th-century New York City to present-day India, with a particular focus on its urban proliferation—especially in Mumbai. It also highlights notable affluent individuals affected by the disease, including George Orwell, Franz Kafka, Eleanor Roosevelt, and members of the Brontë family. The narrative covers traditional folk treatments, early public health initiatives, and scientific breakthroughs by pioneers like Ignaz Semmelweis, Robert Kock, Joseph Lister, and Louis Pasteur. It discusses the emergence of germ theory, the application and misuse of antibiotics, and how overcrowded living conditions facilitate disease spread. The book references the World Health Organization's estimate that one-quarter of the global population harbors latent tuberculosis and addresses difficulties arising from Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis alongside unsuccessful containment efforts.
Krishnan offers a critique of authoritarian regimes, the problematic nature of philanthropy described as "toxic kindness," and widespread anti-science perspectives, presenting contemporary tuberculosis treatment as a reflection of systemic disparities. Throughout the text, themes of racism, avarice, and political influence are interwoven.
Reception
Phantom Plague has received acclaim, with Victoria Irwin calling it "absolutely fascinating," while Madhukar Pai describes it as "urgent, riveting and fascinating." Kirkus Reviews recognizes it as both timely and important. Scroll.in highlights its depiction of human resilience in confronting tuberculosis, bias, anti-science attitudes, and medical segregation. The New York Times praises it as "clear and compelling" and deems it a "worthy read."