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Children from Trinity Lutheran, York Center and Westmore schools eat cookies in Lombard, Ill., on April 28, 1954, after receiving their polio vaccine shots. The children were part of a test trial of the Salk polio vaccine with the DuPage County Health Department.
Hardy Wieting, Chicago Tribune
Children from Trinity Lutheran, York Center and Westmore schools eat cookies in Lombard, Ill., on April 28, 1954, after receiving their polio vaccine shots. The children were part of a test trial of the Salk polio vaccine with the DuPage County Health Department.

Containing epidemics

Chicago Tribune
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Children from Trinity Lutheran, York Center and Westmore schools eat cookies in Lombard, Ill., on April 28, 1954, after receiving their polio vaccine shots. The children were part of a test trial of the Salk polio vaccine with the DuPage County Health Department.
Children from Trinity Lutheran, York Center and Westmore schools eat cookies in Lombard, Ill., on April 28, 1954, after receiving their polio vaccine shots. The children were part of a test trial of the Salk polio vaccine with the DuPage County Health Department.
Dr. Isidore S. Falk, assistant professor of hygiene and bacteriology at the University of Chicago, with his new pneumonia cure apparatus in March 1926. Dr. Falk worked on isolating the influenza virus during the 1928 flu epidemic. By 1929 he had isolated the germ and cautiously stated that there is a “hopeful prospect” that an antitoxin for influenza would now be discovered.
Dr. Gusta Davidsohn treats Muriel Glickman, 14, in a new underwater therapy tank for polio victims installed at Mount Sinai Hospital on Aug. 26, 1938.
Dr. Gusta Davidsohn treats Muriel Glickman, 14, in a new underwater therapy tank for polio victims installed at Mount Sinai Hospital on Aug. 26, 1938.
Junior Gil, 7, cries while getting his polio shot in the city board of health mobile unit that gave shots at 22nd St. and Kedzie Ave. in Chicago on July 4, 1962. That neighborhood was where the last case of polio was reported.
Junior Gil, 7, cries while getting his polio shot in the city board of health mobile unit that gave shots at 22nd St. and Kedzie Ave. in Chicago on July 4, 1962. That neighborhood was where the last case of polio was reported.
Dr. Isidore S. Falk, left, with Alex Finukan, circa February 1928. Dr. Falk was an assistant professor at the University of Chicago in the hygiene and bacteriology department. Dr. Falk was working on isolating the influenza virus and took many swabs from students during the 1928 flu epidemic.
Dr. Isidore S. Falk, left, with Alex Finukan, circa February 1928. Dr. Falk was an assistant professor at the University of Chicago in the hygiene and bacteriology department. Dr. Falk was working on isolating the influenza virus and took many swabs from students during the 1928 flu epidemic.
The polio map in Dr. Herman Bundesen's office shows the number of cases in the area, with one of the heaviest areas of incidence bounded by North Avenue, LaSalle Street, Cermak Road and Kostner Avenue. The chart was photographed on July 31, 1956.
The polio map in Dr. Herman Bundesen’s office shows the number of cases in the area, with one of the heaviest areas of incidence bounded by North Avenue, LaSalle Street, Cermak Road and Kostner Avenue. The chart was photographed on July 31, 1956.
Patricia Ann Green, 5, gets a polio vaccine shot from Dr. Fritz LaRoche, of Provident Hospital, at Lamson Auditorium at 5034 S. Vincennes Ave. in Chicago in July 1956. Comforting Green is director of nursing Beatrice A. Norris.
Patricia Ann Green, 5, gets a polio vaccine shot from Dr. Fritz LaRoche, of Provident Hospital, at Lamson Auditorium at 5034 S. Vincennes Ave. in Chicago in July 1956. Comforting Green is director of nursing Beatrice A. Norris.
A 7-year-old boy sits in bed on his birthday suffering from measles in 1960.
A 7-year-old boy sits in bed on his birthday suffering from measles in 1960.
Research assistant Ruth McKinney, from left, Dr. R. Wendell Harrison and Dr. Isidore S. Falk (seated), in December 1929. Falk, 30, of the University of Chicago, isolated the pleomorphic streptococcus, commonly known as the influenza germ, on Dec. 12, 1929. Falk was a professor of hygiene and bacteriology at the university. During the 1928 flu epidemic, 14 members of the bacteriology department became ill, including McKinney, many of them working 16-hour days and sleeping on their desks, according to Tribune reports. McKinney provided the flu virus that was finally isolated. In 1929 he cautiously stated that there is a “hopeful prospect” that an antitoxin for influenza would now be discovered.
Steven Rice, 6, and Cindy Jane Miller, 6, were picked as the March of Dimes children for the Cook County campaign on Dec. 12, 1960. General campaign chairman Henry Bartholomay, left, greets the children. Both Rice and Miller are polio victims.
Steven Rice, 6, and Cindy Jane Miller, 6, were picked as the March of Dimes children for the Cook County campaign on Dec. 12, 1960. General campaign chairman Henry Bartholomay, left, greets the children. Both Rice and Miller are polio victims.
Instructors Ann Hutchinson, left, and Rose Johnson, right, both in water, serve candy canes at a yule party for post-polio patients in Glencoe, Ill., on Dec. 22, 1953. Sitting on the edge of the pool are, from left, Michael Pocin, Don Riederer, Larry Walls, John Thomson, Wayne Belec, John Marshall, and Robert O'Brien. Hutchinson and Johnson are both volunteer swim instructors.
Instructors Ann Hutchinson, left, and Rose Johnson, right, both in water, serve candy canes at a yule party for post-polio patients in Glencoe, Ill., on Dec. 22, 1953. Sitting on the edge of the pool are, from left, Michael Pocin, Don Riederer, Larry Walls, John Thomson, Wayne Belec, John Marshall, and Robert O’Brien. Hutchinson and Johnson are both volunteer swim instructors.
Board of Health president Dr. Herman Bundesen, left, gives the first polio shot at Mulligan Elementary School in Lincoln Park to Susan Lehman, 7, on Nov. 9, 1955. Dr. Morton Andelman assists on the right.
Board of Health president Dr. Herman Bundesen, left, gives the first polio shot at Mulligan Elementary School in Lincoln Park to Susan Lehman, 7, on Nov. 9, 1955. Dr. Morton Andelman assists on the right.
Dr. John Dill Robertson, left, with D. H. Heide, C. A. Alling and Lucius Tetar in Robertson's office. Robertson was Chicago's health commissioner during the 1918 influenza pandemic that killed thousands of Chicagoans. On the back wall is the 1916 organizational chart for the newly formed Association for the Prevention of Infantile Paralysis (polio). Undated photo.
Dr. John Dill Robertson, left, with D. H. Heide, C. A. Alling and Lucius Tetar in Robertson’s office. Robertson was Chicago’s health commissioner during the 1918 influenza pandemic that killed thousands of Chicagoans. On the back wall is the 1916 organizational chart for the newly formed Association for the Prevention of Infantile Paralysis (polio). Undated photo.
James Carnahan, Red Cross water safety director, watches as Red Cross instructors start a swim class for young polio victims in a pool at the home of Alex T. Spare in Glencoe, Ill., on April 14, 1953. The private pool was used by the Red Cross to aid north suburban polio victims.
James Carnahan, Red Cross water safety director, watches as Red Cross instructors start a swim class for young polio victims in a pool at the home of Alex T. Spare in Glencoe, Ill., on April 14, 1953. The private pool was used by the Red Cross to aid north suburban polio victims.
More than 1,200 people waited several hours in line at the Gage Park Field house at 55th and Western avenues for their polio shot on March 11, 1957.
More than 1,200 people waited several hours in line at the Gage Park Field house at 55th and Western avenues for their polio shot on March 11, 1957.
Dr. Burton J. Winston, right, the city physician, administers the polio vaccine to 1,059 children from Waukegan and surrounding schools at St. Theresa's Nursing home on April 18, 1955.
Dr. Burton J. Winston, right, the city physician, administers the polio vaccine to 1,059 children from Waukegan and surrounding schools at St. Theresa’s Nursing home on April 18, 1955.
Dr. Samuel Andelman and Dr. Joseph Tobin look on as nurse Ann Whales administers the polio vaccine to Charles Jones, 3, on Feb. 20, 1965. The medical professionals were giving free oral polio vaccines at the Henry Horner Boys Club.
Dr. Samuel Andelman and Dr. Joseph Tobin look on as nurse Ann Whales administers the polio vaccine to Charles Jones, 3, on Feb. 20, 1965. The medical professionals were giving free oral polio vaccines at the Henry Horner Boys Club.
Dr. Janice Silver, a family practitioner at Lutheran General Hospital-Lincoln Park, gets ready to innoculate Jeffrey Blockson, 3, on Feb. 22, 1989.
Dr. Janice Silver, a family practitioner at Lutheran General Hospital-Lincoln Park, gets ready to innoculate Jeffrey Blockson, 3, on Feb. 22, 1989.
The Chicago Board of Health polio spot map in Dr. Herman Bundesen's office on July 31, 1956. Each black disc indicates a polio case.
The Chicago Board of Health polio spot map in Dr. Herman Bundesen’s office on July 31, 1956. Each black disc indicates a polio case.
John Dunn, 73, isn't too happy about getting a flu shot from Shirley Simpson on Oct. 13, 1987, at the Park Manor Congregational Church. The Chicago Department of Health was giving free flu shots to seniors.
John Dunn, 73, isn’t too happy about getting a flu shot from Shirley Simpson on Oct. 13, 1987, at the Park Manor Congregational Church. The Chicago Department of Health was giving free flu shots to seniors.

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