North Dakota

Perhaps the disease outbreak in North Dakota’s history was the smallpox epidemic that all but destroyed the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara peoples. In June of 1837, infected passengers aboard a steamboat spread the deadly virus up and down the Missouri River.

Heather Steinmann was putting together her father's obituary, and it reminded her that his song "I Love You, North Dakota" had been on the radio in the 80's — but she did not have a copy.

“The Black Death,” as the bubonic plague was called, swept Europe in the mid-14th century and killed millions of people. Hundreds of years later, North Dakota also grappled with plague.

On this date in 1995, the Bismarck Tribune reported on a most unusual postmaster. Gordon Vaagen, postmaster of Taylor since 1967, was a musical virtuoso. When not running the post office he was repairing and making instruments.

Polio vaccinations were in full swing in the summer of 1955 in North Dakota. A team led by Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh developed the vaccine after years of philanthropy through the March of Dimes. Polio was the most dreaded disease of its time, and could paralyze and even kill children. The public welcomed Salk’s vaccine with open arms.

One of the nation’s deadliest outbreaks of foodborne illness occurred in North Dakota. Just months apart in the early 1930s, there were two separate food…

As North Dakotans return to activities like summer concerts, festivals and picnics, many small town residents are also ready for their annual get…

Yesterday we heard how the polio vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk’s team arrived in North Dakota. On this date in 1955, North Dakota held its first…

Back in the 50s, there was a terrible virus. Only the atomic bomb was feared more. Thousands of people fell ill. Many died. Children were especially vulnerable. And the public held out hope for a vaccine to conquer the disease.

To stop an epidemic of smallpox in 1899, the Grand Forks Board of Health ordered all schoolchildren to be vaccinated at the city’s expense and ordered all…