How Romanians contracted 'shameful diseases': Who brought syphilis to Romania and led to the great 1934 epidemic

Syphilis, historically referred to as "shameful diseases," has left a significant mark on Romania's modern history. The infection's spread was primarily fueled by invading armies and the accompanying sex workers, later amplified by the expansion of prostitution across Greater Romania, which culminated in a major epidemic in 1934.

Throughout history, humanity has grappled with devastating bacterial and viral outbreaks. Syphilis, a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum, has been particularly impactful, triggering widespread epidemics from the late 15th century through the interwar period. Factors contributing to its rapid transmission included poor sexual hygiene, a lack of sex education, and widespread, poorly regulated prostitution. Numerous wars on the European continent also played a role in its propagation.

In the Romanian Principalities and later Greater Romania, syphilis caused considerable devastation. The disease's stigmatized nature meant many cases went unreported, fostering uncontrolled spread. High rates of illiteracy and promiscuity further worsened the situation. The social stigma associated with syphilis, often linked to visiting prostitutes or engaging in sex in unsanitary conditions, led affected populations to seek external blame, attributing the epidemic's origin to neighboring or enemy nations.

This led to various nationalistic names for the disease: Italians, Germans, and English called it the "French disease," while the French referred to it as the "Neapolitan disease." Russians called it the "Polish disease," and Poles called it the "German disease." Even today, syphilis has not been eradicated. Despite modern protection methods and awareness campaigns, Romania continues to report cases, remaining one of the European countries grappling with this public health issue.