On This Date in Minnesota History: February 5

February 5, 1917 – An outbreak of typhoid fever in which the source of infection was traced to the drinking of raw Mississippi River water by laborers in the camp of the P.M. Hennessey Construction Co. on the Farmers’ Terminal Packing plant near St. Paul was reported today by Dr. W. P. Greene, investigator for the state board of health.

Well water service at the camp was discontinued because of the expense of 50 cents a day, the report said, and the camp cook was ordered to get water from the river. The St. Paul Health Dept. recently reported a positive case of typhoid and added that 15 or 20 men among 70 boarders in the camp showed symptoms of the disease. Five are now in the city and county hospital in St. Paul and other victims of the infection are sick at their homes near the camps. Twin City health departments were requested today to watch for additional cases.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Laborers Ill After Drinking River Water. Many Employes (sic) in Packing Plant Near St. Paul Infected with Typhoid.”; Feb. 6, 1917; p. 1.

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