For context, the US had just gone through a polio epidemic, starting ~1949. Before Salk's vaccine was discovered and widely used (~'54) there was polio hysteri

For context, the US had just gone through a polio epidemic, starting ~1949. Before Salk's vaccine was discovered and widely used (~'54) there was polio hysteria, public places were avoided, "unclean" Italians were shunned, as were cats. It was a ridiculous overreaction. Too soon for anyone to be fooled again. Strangely, none of that is mentioned in an article about US reaction to a pandemic just three years later. https://www.history.com/news/polio-fear-post-wwii-era https://www.history.com/news/polio-fear-post-wwii-era