Akureyrar veikin

In the winter of 1948–1949, a serious epidemic struck the town of Akureyri. At first it was thought to be poliomyelitis, but that diagnosis was soon ruled out — and to this day, no one knows what kind of illness it truly was. Since mid-1949, the outbreak has been known simply as Akureyrarveikin — in English, the Akureyri disease or Iceland disease. It is estimated that around one thousand people in Akureyri fell ill. The mysterious sickness returned again in 1955–1956, this time in the Westfjords and in Þistilfjörður.

This book explores the course of the Akureyri epidemic — its spread, its lasting consequences, and the deeply personal stories of those affected. Many never fully recovered. Drawing on extensive archival material and numerous interviews, the author sheds new light on a chapter of Icelandic history long shrouded in silence.

Decades later, scientists have turned their attention once again to this forgotten epidemic, as striking parallels emerge between the Akureyri disease, ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), and the lingering aftereffects of COVID-19.

ISBN 9789935955470

Author Óskar Þór Halldórsson

Publisher Svarfdælasýsl forlag, 2025

Format Hardcover, 25 cm

Pages 383