An Epidemic of History

Sarah Dunant discusses the relationship between disease and the culture of history - starting with Columbus and the outbreak of syphilis in 1495.

"We have been here before, many times" writes Sarah Dunant as she charts some key moments in history when the world has been gripped by fear over the spread of disease.

From Columbus and the outbreak of syphilis in 1495, to cholera at Mecca in the 1860s ....and Wuhan today.