Dr. Seuss and His World War II Malaria Campaign Called Ann
- jr81568
- 11 hours ago
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Dr. Seuss is known for his rhyming children's books that delight teachers, parents, and kids. However, he worked for the Treasury and the Department of War Production during World War Il. He joined the Army in 1943 and was assigned to head the 1st Motion Picture Unit.
Dr Seuss wrote instructional educational brochures, designed campaigns, political cartoons, and films for the soldiers and staff in the Army. There was little censorship because the material was not for public use but army staff. He developed a campaign to keep the Army soldiers from getting malaria from mosquitos.
Dr. Seuss and The Malaria Campaign Called Ann
In 1943 the Germans blocked the delivery to the Allies of the drug used to treat malaria called quine. To address this problem Dr. Seuss created an ad campaign with instructional material on how to protect and avoid encounters with mosquitos. It includes information on safety, symptoms, and treatment.
In his campaign Dr. Seuss called the mosquito Ann and created a cartoon to attract their GI's attention. The mosquito was called Anopheles Mosquito who liked to drink blood and spread malaria. His brochures described how the mosquito spread malaria by biting the person and showed a map of where it lived. It was the only insect that could infect you with malaria.
His brochure advised GI' to use nets to prevent them from getting bite at night. He advised them to repair holes in the net with needle and thread or event tape. The instructional material told GI"s to use repellent that the Army sold. It would keep the mosquitos away for at least four hours.
When going outside GI's were advised to use repellent on their clothing. Mosquitos bit through thin clothing and their favorite spots were the shoulders and butt.
Theodore Seuss Geisel explained that the Army Medical Corp and Anti Malaria Combat Unit work hard to control mosquitos. They drain and fill ditches and pools where mosquito breed. They add chemicals to pool they cannot drain and spray areas to kill them. But they cannot kill all of them.
The units had mosquito bombs for fox holes and shelters. He suggested GI' avoid swimming in water or pools at night where mosquitos hang out. Protection required keeping on long sleeves and pants, using head nets and gloves even thought it was not very cool. The material he wrote was sometimes crude but not for public use.
Malaria Symptoms and Treatment During World War II
His campaign warned the men of the symptoms of malaria fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and lack of energy. He urged them to get treated for the illness as it could become fatal.
They treated the disease with antibiotics and a drug called Atabrine. It did not cure the disease but repressed the symptoms so the soldiers could remain active. The drug had side effects causing yellowing skin, nausea, diarrhea, nightmares and anxiety. Although not ideal this was used during World War II to treat malaria.
When not treated quickly malaria could cause kidney failure, anemia, jaundice, coma and death. Dr. Seuss's campaign was designed to help the GI's avoid the disease and practice safety to keep from getting it. He provided instructional material on symptoms and urged them to seek treatment if infected.
Reference Sources:
Dr Seiss Army Career, by Katie Lange, US Department of War Feb 28, 2019
Before He Was A Children's Book Author Dr Seuss Was In the Army and wrote about "Private Snafu" by Katie Lange, USO, September 16, 2019
Dr. Seuss on Malaria This is Ann-She Drinks Blood by Michaeleen Doucleff, NPR, Shots, Public Health, October 20, 2012
This is Ann, Article about Malaria Ad Campaign, The Huntington, 2026
This is Ann-she drinks blood, creator: Dr. Seuss, author Leaf Munro, Army Service Force, 1943, Cornell University Library Digital Collection, 4-14-2017
Theodore Seuss Geisel, The Early Works of Dr. Seuss Vol 1, Troy Brownfield, Editor and Journalism Professor at St. Mary of the Woods College, Check Book Publishing Group. 2005
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