Giuseppe
Emeritus
Venetian Rule and Control of Plague Epidemics on the Ionian Islands during 17th and 18th Centuries [US CDC EID]
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES REVIEW
DOI: 10.3201/eid1501.071545
Full text (PDF) LINK
Suggested citation for this article: Konstantinidou K, Mantadakis E, Falagas ME, Sardi T, Samonis G. Role of Venetian rule in control of plague epidemics on the Ionian Islands during 17th and 18th centuries. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Jan; [Epub ahead of print]
Venetian Rule and Control of Plague Epidemics on the Ionian Islands during 17th and 18th Centuries
Katerina Konstantinidou, Elpis Mantadakis, Matthew E. Falagas, Thalia Sardi, and George Samonis
Author affiliations: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece (K. Konstantinidou); University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece (E. Mantadakis, G. Samonis); and Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Marousi, Greece (M.E. Falagas, T. Sardi)
During the 17th and 18th centuries, measures were taken by the Venetian administration to combat plague on the Ionian islands.
At that time, although the scientific basis of plague was unknown, the Venetians recognized its infectious nature and successfully decreased its spread by implementing an information network.
Additionally, by activating a system of inspection that involved establishing garrisons along the coasts, the Venetians were able to control all local movements in plague-infested areas, which were immediately isolated.
In contrast, the neighboring coast of mainland Greece, which was under Ottoman rule, was a plague-endemic area during the same period.
We conclude that even in the absence of scientific knowledge, close observation and social and political measures can effectively restrain infectious outbreaks to the point of disappearance.
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EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES REVIEW
DOI: 10.3201/eid1501.071545
Full text (PDF) LINK
Suggested citation for this article: Konstantinidou K, Mantadakis E, Falagas ME, Sardi T, Samonis G. Role of Venetian rule in control of plague epidemics on the Ionian Islands during 17th and 18th centuries. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Jan; [Epub ahead of print]
Venetian Rule and Control of Plague Epidemics on the Ionian Islands during 17th and 18th Centuries
Katerina Konstantinidou, Elpis Mantadakis, Matthew E. Falagas, Thalia Sardi, and George Samonis
Author affiliations: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece (K. Konstantinidou); University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece (E. Mantadakis, G. Samonis); and Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Marousi, Greece (M.E. Falagas, T. Sardi)
During the 17th and 18th centuries, measures were taken by the Venetian administration to combat plague on the Ionian islands.
At that time, although the scientific basis of plague was unknown, the Venetians recognized its infectious nature and successfully decreased its spread by implementing an information network.
Additionally, by activating a system of inspection that involved establishing garrisons along the coasts, the Venetians were able to control all local movements in plague-infested areas, which were immediately isolated.
In contrast, the neighboring coast of mainland Greece, which was under Ottoman rule, was a plague-endemic area during the same period.
We conclude that even in the absence of scientific knowledge, close observation and social and political measures can effectively restrain infectious outbreaks to the point of disappearance.
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