The Cholera Epidemic in Buffalo: 1832, 1848, and 1854 and the Threat of Widespread Diseases

I wanted to revisit this article I wrote several years ago and connect it to what is happening in today’s world. Recently, reports have shown that measles cases are rising, particularly in the southern states. Measles had largely been eradicated due to the development of vaccines. However, it appears to be making a comeback as many people are rejecting the measles vaccine.

At the same time, federal funding cuts to organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other vital health services are limiting resources that warn the public about potential health crises. As the country reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact, it is important to remember that COVID-19 is still present, and many individuals continue to suffer from Long COVID.

The purpose of this article is not to debate vaccines but to remind people that widespread disease outbreaks are always a possibility. Buffalo itself has a history of dealing with deadly epidemics, such as the cholera outbreak that devastated the city for several years.

Buffalo is now 193 years old, having been incorporated as a city in 1832. Just two months after incorporation, a cholera epidemic broke out in June 1832. Buffalo’s first mayor, Dr. Ebenezer Johnson, blamed immigrants from Quebec, believing they had introduced the disease. The Common Council responded swiftly, placing the entire city under quarantine. Lake boats, canal boats, and stagecoaches were halted.

Cholera was a terrifying disease—a person could be healthy in the morning and dead by night. Death carts roamed the streets, with drivers shouting, “Bring out the bodies.” The deceased could not remain inside for more than an hour or two. This was one of the most frightening times in Buffalo’s history.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by intestinal infection. Symptoms include severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, leg cramps, and rapid fluid loss, leading to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours. Cholera spreads through contaminated water or food and was especially deadly in the 1800s, when water treatment and sewage systems were inadequate. It was also spread by insects and flies. Fortunately, modern water treatment has eliminated cholera in developed societies.

By July 1832, so many people had died that farmers in Tonawanda and surrounding rural areas refused to bring food into Buffalo, leading to severe shortages. Emergency hospitals were set up along the canal, in warehouses, and in poorhouses. The sick were placed on straw beds in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.

The arrival of cooler weather in the fall helped slow the spread of cholera, allowing canal boats to resume travel. However, in 1854, cholera returned—this time even more deadly. It began in Montreal and Quebec, killing thousands. As the disease spread through Albany and Buffalo, businesses shut down, people fled to the countryside, and the city ground to a halt.

The information on Buffalo’s cholera outbreaks was taken from John W. Percy’s article, The Erie Canal: From Lockport to Buffalo. For further details, you can search “Cholera Epidemics in Buffalo” online.

History offers valuable lessons. It is essential that we learn from the past to prepare for the future. Disease outbreaks are always a threat, and staying informed, vigilant, and proactive is the best way to protect public health.