Podcast Summary: The Autumn Ghost — A Medical Breakthrough in Polio’s Wake

Podcast: Rotary Voices
Host: Jeff Johnson, Senior Editor, Rotary magazine
Guest: Dr. Hannah Wunsch, Professor, Anesthesiologist, and Author
Date: November 12, 2025

Overview

This episode of Rotary Voices features Dr. Hannah Wunsch, author of The Autumn Ghost, discussing the Copenhagen polio epidemic of 1952, the life-saving invention of positive pressure ventilation, and its profound impact on modern medicine. Dr. Wunsch explores the human stories behind the epidemic, the trauma and triumph of those days, and the book's contemporary resonance in light of vaccine hesitancy and global public health. The conversation also reflects on the importance of truth and storytelling in medicine and history, and the ongoing fight to eradicate polio.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Meaning of the "Autumn Ghost" (02:23–03:19)

• Origin of the Term:
  The term “Autumn Ghost” refers to polio in Scandinavian countries, where it peaked in the autumn, unlike the “summer plague” in North America. Its stealthy progression and annual terror inspired the phrase.
  • Notable Quote:

    “It would sneak in over the course of the summer and then really rear its head in the autumn months... so sinister and in that sense, to me really fit the disease as this terror that would come every year.” — Dr. Wunsch (02:32)

2. The 1952 Copenhagen Polio Epidemic's Impact (03:29–05:58)

• Medical Innovation:
  Focuses on the leap from the iron lung to positive pressure ventilation (blowing air into the lungs via a tracheostomy), a breakthrough precipitated by the severity and type of polio cases (especially bulbar polio).
• Personal Connection:
  Dr. Wunsch describes being struck by the image of 1,200+ students hand-ventilating patients, a feat of community, terror, and dedication that still influences her work and perspective as an intensivist.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Every time I would flick a switch on a ventilator...I just couldn't help but go back to that story...and marvel at how recent it is…” — Dr. Wunsch (04:32)

3. The Iron Lung and Early Respiratory Care (05:58–07:39)

• Philip Drinker's Iron Lung:
  Designed to help victims of accidents and later repurposed for polio, the iron lung only treated certain forms of respiratory failure (spinal paralysis), not the more fatal bulbar polio.
  • Notable Quote:

    “It became a majorly important mainstay of treatment, but for a limited range of patients.” — Dr. Wunsch (07:01)

4. The Breakthrough: Positive Pressure Ventilation (07:48–10:57)

• Crisis at Blydam Hospital:
  Overloaded by a surge of bulbar polio cases, doctors faced hopelessness with the iron lung’s limitations. Dr. Bjorn Ibsen, an anesthesiologist, suggested and implemented positive pressure ventilation, first used on a dying girl (Vivi Ebert).
  • Memorable Moment:

    “...They literally go off to lunch cause they don't wanna see another death of a little girl. And he takes a risk and gives her anesthesia...she wakes up and she's alert and interactive...they realize that this is the way forward.” — Dr. Wunsch (10:09)

5. Birth of the Intensive Care Unit (10:57–12:13)

• ICU Concept:
  The necessity for integrated, round-the-clock care led to the development of the modern ICU, where various specialists and technology provide reprieve and support for critically ill patients.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Intensive care...is about supporting someone's body to keep them going until their own body can heal.” — Dr. Wunsch (11:20)

6. Human Toll and Dedication of Medical Students (12:13–14:08)

• Manual Ventilation:
  With no machines available, students hand-ventilated patients in grueling shifts, often under-trained and facing real danger and trauma.
  • Details:
    • Shifts lasted 6–8 hours.
    • Students sometimes had only five minutes of instruction.
    • They faced crises like blocked tubes and power failures.
  • Notable Quote:

    “They literally had to breathe for them...incredible dedication that went into this and incredibly scary.” — Dr. Wunsch (12:28)

7. Long-term Impact on Involved Students (14:04–15:20)

• Personal Stories:
  Dr. Wunsch interviewed survivors—some became anesthesiologists, some deeply traumatized, and many marked for life by those intense experiences.
  • Notable Quote:

    “This experience left an indelible mark...and also traumatic marks...it really resonates a lot with medical audiences, but even more so with COVID.” — Dr. Wunsch (14:08)

8. Relevance to Modern Challenges: Vaccines & COVID-19 (15:20–16:33)

• Parallel to Today:
  The pandemic and current vaccine hesitancy have made the story’s lessons more relevant; Dr. Wunsch now emphasizes the lived impact of polio, not just the medical innovation.
  • Notable Quote:

    “The passages I read...have changed from emphasizing the innovation...to really wanting to drive home...the impact of polio on people's lives.” — Dr. Wunsch (16:23)

9. The Parallel Story of Vaccine Development (16:33–19:52)

• Vaccine Race:
  The Copenhagen outbreak happened just before an effective vaccine was available; Wunsch highlights survivors' joy upon the vaccine's release, even for those already affected.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Many people described their parents breaking down in tears when the polio vaccine was announced. They remembered that vividly because it was so terrifying to people as a disease...” — Dr. Wunsch (17:44)

• Polio's Visibility:
  Unlike most diseases, polio left obvious physical marks (braces, wheelchairs), intensifying its social and emotional impact.

10. The Perils of Complacency (19:52–21:14)

• Vaccine Complacency:
  Wunsch warns against nonchalance in polio-free countries, emphasizing community benefit and the fragility of herd immunity.
  • Notable Quote:

    “...if you vaccinate, you are not only protecting yourself or your child, you are protecting the people around you, that you are protecting the community...” — Dr. Wunsch (20:05)

11. Global Eradication and Rotary’s Role (22:27–23:55)

• Why Finish the Job?
  Polio anywhere is a threat everywhere—global eradication will eventually allow the world to move on and even cease polio vaccination, as with smallpox.
  • Notable Quote:

    “As long as polio is somewhere in the world, no one is completely safe...Once we wipe it out...we can turn our attention elsewhere.” — Dr. Wunsch (22:42)

12. Storytelling and Truth in Medicine and Science (24:06–30:12)

• Why the Book Resonates with Rotary:
  Personal stories ground the abstract fight against polio, offering members a powerful narrative.
• Truth in Science:
  Tying into Rotary's Four-Way Test, Wunsch notes truth is foundational to science and medicine; dismissing it would set back society immeasurably.
  • Notable Quote:

    “The truth is just the centerpiece of what we're seeking with scientific research, with medical care.” — Dr. Wunsch (25:40)

• Trustworthy Information:
  Wunsch encourages people to lean on trusted medical practitioners and reputable institutions, not random internet sources.
• The Historian’s Challenge:
  Dr. Wunsch details the rigor of corroborating sources and recognizing the fallibility of memory in biographical and historical work.

Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “It would sneak in over the course of the summer and then really rear its head in the autumn months... so sinister and in that sense, to me really fit the disease as this terror that would come every year.” — Dr. Wunsch (02:32)
• “Every time I would flick a switch on a ventilator...I just couldn't help but go back to that story...and marvel at how recent it is…” — Dr. Wunsch (04:53)
• “They literally had to breathe for them...incredible dedication that went into this and incredibly scary.” — Dr. Wunsch (12:28)
• “Many people described their parents breaking down in tears when the polio vaccine was announced. They remembered that vividly because it was so terrifying to people as a disease...” — Dr. Wunsch (17:44)
• “...if you vaccinate, you are not only protecting yourself or your child, you are protecting the people around you, that you are protecting the community...” — Dr. Wunsch (20:05)
• “As long as polio is somewhere in the world, no one is completely safe.” — Dr. Wunsch (22:42)
• “The truth is just the centerpiece of what we're seeking with scientific research, with medical care.” — Dr. Wunsch (25:40)

Important Timestamps

• Polio’s Arrival and Early Fears: 00:04 – 02:23
• Origin of “Autumn Ghost”: 02:23 – 03:19
• Breakthrough in Breathing Support: 07:48 – 10:57
• Manual Ventilation by Students: 12:13 – 14:08
• Parallels to COVID-19 Pandemic: 15:20 – 16:33
• Polio Vaccine Development: 16:33 – 19:52
• Global Eradication Efforts & Rotary’s Role: 22:27 – 23:55
• Four-Way Test (“Is it the Truth?”) and Trust in Science: 25:19 – 28:14

Conclusion

Dr. Wunsch’s intense, accessible storytelling brings to life a forgotten medical crisis that shaped the future of critical care and still matters for global public health. The episode is not just a history lesson but a call to vigilance, community, and the pursuit of truth, underscoring the work of Rotary, scientists, and physicians to finally eradicate polio worldwide.

For more stories from Rotary International—or to participate in their mission—visit rotary.org.