The yellow fever epidemic of 1855 was not an unusual outbreak in the area of Norfolk and Portsmouth. In fact, Norfolk’s yellow fever epidemic of 1855 was one of the greatest tragedies in Norfolk and Portsmouth history (McPhillips, 2005). The citizens of Norfolk and Portsmouth were faced with hardships associated with yellow fever due to poor sanitation, impoverishment, and climate conditions in relation to the disease. Many people during the nineteenth century were familiar with the symptoms of the diseases, however many had preconceived notions through persuasion that yellow fever only infected those who were in lower socioeconomic statuses and living in extreme unsanitary conditions. During this time, the important focuses were climate changes
