The origin of quarantine

Quarantine (derived from Italian word “quaranta,” meaning 40)  means of separating persons, animals, and goods that may have been exposed to a pandemic disease but why? And Why is it for 40 long days? 

Let's go back to the 13th century 

                      The Black Death

The black death was a destructive epidemic that collapsed the Europe in the 1300s.  In late October 1347, 12 ships arrived at the Sicilian port of Messina, Europe from the Black Sea accommodated with sailors in the ships. Many died, and those who were still alive were ill and covered with inflammation that oozed blood and pus. 

The reason behind this was not clear for many years. Then it was found that the plague was spread from the rodent to the sailors since they had no immune response towards it. 

Though the authorities ordered the ship to take back from harbor. But at that time, no one would have known that this is going to be the reason for killing  30-50% of Europe's population. Then the disease started spreading within Europe and quickly spread throughout Italy, Florence, Venice, and Genoa with severe symptoms. 

The severity was like a man who may be healthy at night, can be seen as dead in the morning. 

No one knew exactly how the plague was transmitted and no one knew how to cure that. 

Meanwhile, Doctors refused to see patients, shopkeepers closed their stores. Many people moved from the cities to the countryside, but they could not run away from the disease. 

The plague affected cows, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens apart from the people.

Physicians Endeavor

Physicians used crude and unsophisticated techniques such as bloodletting and practices such as burning aromatic herbs and bathing in rosewater  but went in vain. 

People’s Myth 

Doctors did not understand the biology of the bubonic plague and people believed that the plague was a kind of divine punishment for sins against God. 

Quarantine 

The speed of spread slowed strongly during the winter and stopped completely in mountain areas such as the Alps and the northerly parts of Europe. From this the government of Italy was able to come with a procedure called quarantine. 

The Italian government established a system of quarantine of detaining individuals and entire ships in the Venetian lagoon for 40 days. Travelers coming from areas in which the plague was an epidemic or may not could not be entered into Ragusa until they had been isolated for 40 days, No citizen of Ragusa was granted to reach the isolation area.

This is how quarantine formed and followed till date.

Why for 40 days? 

It is not clearly known why 40 days was chosen as the length of isolation time to avoid contamination, but health officials may have prescribed a 40-day quarantine because  When God flooded the Earth, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, and Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days. In the centuries that followed, the system of isolation was improved (13–15) days

Plague exists till date? 

According to The World Health Organization, still 1,000 to 3,000 cases of plague every year. 

Modern health practices have greatly reduced the impact of the disease with antibiotics against black plague. 

Till 2015,  The plague affected 3000 people and killed 584. 

      

                   

Quarantine was an absolute key to safeguard form the pandemic disease in ancient times to till date. Humans have faced many pandemic and quarantine has played an essential role. 

Quarantine is not just a frame of protecting one or two members, it is an important aspect in protecting our families, neighbors and society. Corona is just another pandemic and we humans can overcome with this quarantine and social distancing. 

                 

               “Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”-- Marie Curie

                                      

                   Stay Home! Stay safe!