A Favorite Pastime: Disease and Disinformation in the Cold War
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Durant, David M.
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Abstract
Disinformation and political warfare were key components of the Cold War struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union, and a number of the most notorious of these campaigns centered around allegations involving disease outbreaks and claims of biological warfare. From the Korean War to the emergence of AIDS, real and alleged biomedical activities were a key aspect of the Cold War propaganda duel. The legacy of such medically-oriented disinformation can still be felt in the spread of falsehoods regarding COVID-19 and alleged “bioweapons labs” in Ukraine.
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Presented on November 16, 2022 in Laupus Library, East Carolina University, as part of the "Medical History Interest Group" series. Presentation slides and bibliography provided.