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How a small American town was saved from a deadly diphtheria outbreak

The Great Race of Mercy took place 100 years ago

How a small American town was saved from a deadly diphtheria outbreak
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Paul Bernhardt
15/04/2025 12:45 ‧ 1 month ago | StarsInsider

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History

In early 1925, an outbreak of diphtheria threatened to wipe out the entire population of Nome, a remote gold rush town in Alaska. With no antitoxin at hand, an idea was proposed to have the much-needed medicine delivered by dogsled across some of the most inhospitable wilderness in the United States. What happened next remains one of the most heroic and inspiring episodes in US history.

So, was the serum successfully handed over? Click through this gallery and learn more about what became known as the Great Race of Mercy.

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