Charles Nicolle (1866–1936) was a French bacteriologist and Nobel laureate recognized for his pioneering work on typhus fever. Born in Rouen, France, Nicolle studied medicine in Paris before joining the Pasteur Institute, where he conducted research on various infectious diseases. Nicolle’s most significant contribution came in 1909 when he identified lice as the vector for epidemic typhus, a deadly disease responsible for numerous outbreaks throughout history. His discovery of the role of lice in transmitting the disease led to effective public health measures, including improved hygiene practices and the use of insecticides to control lice populations. In recognition of his groundbreaking research, Nicolle was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1928. His work not only saved countless lives but also laid the foundation for understanding the transmission of other vector-borne diseases, contributing to significant advancements in public health and epidemiology.

Charles Nicolle Quotes

1. “Chance favors only those who court her.”
— Charles Nicolle

2. “The disclosure of a new fact, the leap forward, the conquest over yesterday’s ignorance, is an act not of reason but of imagination, of intuition.”
— Charles Nicolle