The London cholera epidemic of 1854

The London cholera epidemic of 1854 was a major outbreak of cholera, a deadly disease caused by contaminated water. This outbreak highlighted poor sanitation and the lack of clean drinking water in overcrowded areas. Dr. John Snow famously mapped cases and identified a contaminated public water pump on Broad Street as the source of the outbreak. His work significantly advanced the understanding of disease transmission and laid the groundwork for modern public health and epidemiology. The epidemic ultimately led to improvements in urban sanitation and water supply systems, significantly reducing the risk of future outbreaks.