Yellow Fever-Historic Event

Yellow Fever originally hit the United States in 1668-69 in the New York-Philadelphia area. It didn't make its way south until 1828 when it first appeared in New Orleans. Within days, it moved up-river and found the perfect breeding ground - swampy and filthy Memphis. During its first epidemic in 1828, there were 650 cases and 150 deaths. Consider that the population was under 1,000 at that time and you get an idea of how deadly this disease was.