This collection of essays investigates how the concept of contagion functions as a central organizing principle in government, biomedicine, and popular culture across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Edited by Alison Bashford, the volume brings together scholars from cultural studies, biomedical history, and sociology to analyze the social and political mechanisms used to manage infectious disease. The contributors argue that the management of contagion is not merely a clinical endeavor but a process that actively constructs geographies, identities, and state policies.

Scholars and historians frequently cite this work as a significant interdisciplinary contribution to the study of medical humanities and social history. Experts highlight the text for its ability to bridge the gap between clinical biomedical history and critical sociological theory.