The Evolution of Disease Narratives in Italy and Western world

The purpose of this essay is giving some historical examples of folk narratives and beliefs told and spread orally in cases of urgency and danger, either real or perceived, about diseases. The chosen perspective is diachronic, going from the Middle Ages to the contemporary times, whereas the examples are taken from Western world (Europe and USA) and mostly Italy. Moreover and despite the changes throughout time, these examples of folklore show some analogies: above all, the perception of society as an endangered organism to protect and preserve both in a concrete and symbolic way.