u003cbu003eu003cbu003eSheds light on the US government’s response to epidemics through history—with larger conclusions about COVID-19 and reforms needed before the next plague.u003c/bu003eu003c/bu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eIn this narrative history of the US through major outbreaks of contagious disease, from yellow fever to the Spanish flu, from HIV/AIDS to Ebola, Polly J. Price examines how law and government affected the outcome of epidemics—and how those outbreaks in turn shaped our government.u003cbru003e u003cbru003ePrice presents a fascinating history that has never been fully explored and draws larger conclusions about the gaps in our governmental and legal response. u003ciu003ePlagues in the Nationu003c/iu003e examines how our country learned—and failed to learn—how to address the panic, conflict, and chaos that are the companions of contagion, what policies failed America again and again, and what we must do better next time.