Politically Motivated Sign, 1968

Politically Motivated Sign, 1968

Huang Mong-hua, a Hong Kong city counselor, denounced the name "Hong Kong Flu," stating that the name stigmatized Hong Kong. Just as with the 1957 pandemic, the 1968 pandemic was named based on where the outbreak was first reported. The term "Hong Kong Flu," as well as other names, such as "Mao Flu" was used by the public and media. Some U.S. media sources used the pandemic to make racial and political comments about China and Southeast Asia. The billboard proclaims that "Hong Kong Flu is UnAmerican!" expressing a politically motivated message to passersby.

Getty Images, Photograph by Bettmann