When Laughing Was Contagious

Ebbs of History · May 14, 2026 · 25m · transcript

In this episode, we explore the Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic, a bizarre outbreak that affected a small village in East Africa. The epidemic lasted for 18 months and primarily affected adolescent girls and young women in schools. The psychological explanation, social context, and historical impact of the epidemic are discussed in detail.

Sources:

Wikipedia: Tanganyika laughter epidemic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanganyika_laughter_epidemic)

Atlas Obscura: The 1962 Laughter Epidemic of Tanganyika Was No Joke (https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/1962-laughter-epidemic-tanganyika)

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