Final answer:
Clara Maass was the nurse who died after intentionally being bitten by mosquitoes to help understand and combat yellow fever during the Spanish-American War. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse who died after deliberately acquiring two bites from yellow fever carrier mosquitoes to provide care to soldiers with yellow fever during the Spanish-American War was Clara Maass. Clara Maass was a brave nurse who, understanding the risk involved, volunteered to be bitten in the course of medical experiments aimed at confirming that mosquitoes were the vectors of the disease. Her sacrifice not only helped confirm the transmission method of yellow fever but also contributed to developing preventive measures that saved countless lives afterwards.
Yellow fever was a significant threat during the construction of the Panama Canal, with over 80% of American workers hospitalized due to the disease at one point. It was the work of Carlos Finlay and Walter Reed that eventually turned the tide by demonstrating it was transmitted by mosquitoes. Their findings on vector control measures were also crucial in reducing yellow fever and malaria rates, contributing to the success of the Panama Canal project.
The service and sacrifices of nurses in history are profound and often pivotal during times of war and epidemics. Clara Maass's story is a poignant example of the selflessness and courage that nurses have historically demonstrated, often at the cost of their own lives. This ultimate sacrifice has garnered her a significant place in the annals of medical and military history.