<P> In 1848 , Josiah C. Nott suggested that yellow fever was spread by insects such as moths or mosquitoes , basing his ideas on the pattern of transmission of the disease . Carlos Finlay , a Cuban doctor and scientist , proposed in 1881 that yellow fever might be transmitted by mosquitoes rather than direct human contact . Since the losses from yellow fever in the Spanish -- American War in the 1890s were extremely high , Army doctors began research experiments with a team led by Walter Reed , and composed of doctors James Carroll , Aristides Agramonte , and Jesse William Lazear . They successfully proved Finlay 's '' mosquito hypothesis '' . Yellow fever was the first virus shown to be transmitted by mosquitoes . The physician William Gorgas applied these insights and eradicated yellow fever from Havana . He also campaigned against yellow fever during the construction of the Panama Canal . A previous effort of canal building by the French had failed ( in part due to mortality from the high incidence of yellow fever and malaria , which killed many workers ) . </P>
<P> In 1848 , Josiah C. Nott suggested that yellow fever was spread by insects such as moths or mosquitoes , basing his ideas on the pattern of transmission of the disease . Carlos Finlay , a Cuban doctor and scientist , proposed in 1881 that yellow fever might be transmitted by mosquitoes rather than direct human contact . Since the losses from yellow fever in the Spanish -- American War in the 1890s were extremely high , Army doctors began research experiments with a team led by Walter Reed , and composed of doctors James Carroll , Aristides Agramonte , and Jesse William Lazear . They successfully proved Finlay 's '' mosquito hypothesis '' . Yellow fever was the first virus shown to be transmitted by mosquitoes . The physician William Gorgas applied these insights and eradicated yellow fever from Havana . He also campaigned against yellow fever during the construction of the Panama Canal . A previous effort of canal building by the French had failed ( in part due to mortality from the high incidence of yellow fever and malaria , which killed many workers ) . </P>
who found the real cause of yellow fever
who found the real cause of yellow fever
doctors James Carroll , Aristides Agramonte , and Jesse William Lazear
doctors James Carroll , Aristides Agramonte , and Jesse William Lazear