The Conversation

Patient zero: why it’s such a toxic term

Heightened fears surrounding COVID-19 have once again brought the idea of “patient zero” into public consciousness. Ever since it was coined by accident in the 1980s, this popular yet slippery term ...
The Hollywood Reporter

‘Killing Patient Zero’: Film Review

Laurie Lynd's documentary 'Killing Patient Zero' tells the story of the man falsely accused of spreading AIDS in North America. By Frank Scheck The title makes it sound like a Cold War spy thriller, ...
NBC4 Columbus

Who is ‘patient zero’ in the Columbus ransomware attack?

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — If there’s one thing the city needs to do as it navigates the aftermath of a data leak, cybersecurity experts are telling NBC4 Investigates it’s finding “patient zero.” NBC4 ...
The Conversation

Finding the source of an outbreak is important. But the term ‘patient zero’ is a problem

Security guards at Melbourne’s quarantine hotels have been widely blamed for Victoria’s current outbreak of COVID-19. Reports have suggested they mixed inappropriately with people under quarantine, ...