In the 19th century, yellow fever survivors already used immunity passports

In 1804, the territory of Gibraltar, located south of the Iberian Peninsula, experienced an epidemic of yellow fever. Over four months, more than 2,200 people died from the disease, which is transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Health officials tried to stop the problem, but that was not an easy task – since at that time nobody knew how transmission occurred.
Gibraltar was a strategic territory, as it was next to the only route that allowed entry into the Mediterranean through the Atlantic Ocean. It was a British Overseas Territory, and served as a fortress for many military personnel. People lived huddled within the colony walls, sharing a room for ten people, for example.
In addition, no river or spring crossed the territory – the population needed to collect rainwater in buckets for their own consumption. It was the recipe for disaster: standing water combined with the hot summer environment forms a full plate for the Aedes aegypti. Infections would only cease with the arrival of winter.
The 1804 epidemic was not the only one: outbreaks also occurred in 1810, 1813, 1814 and 1828. Research published in the scientific journal BMJ Global Health shows that the authorities were already better prepared for the second outbreak. A quarantine camp was created, where the infected were forcibly taken until the situation in the territory improved. About 4,000 people passed through there.
Source: In the 19th century, yellow fever survivors already used immunity passports – Mágica Mistura 車





You must be logged in to post a comment.