Polio epidemic spread throughout New York killing more than 2,300 mostly children
On Jun. 17, 1916, New York City experienced the first large epidemic of polio (poliomyletis), with over 9,000…
The New York City Department of Health opened a quarantine facility at Riverside Hospital on North Brother Island
In 1903, the New York City Department of Health opened a quarantine facility at Riverside Hospital on North…
The Pan American Sanitary Bureau was established as the first of a series of international health organizations
In 1902, the Pan American Sanitary Bureau was established as the first of a series of international health…
In March, Chick Gin, a Chinese proprietor, died of bubonic plague in the Chinese quarter of San Francisco
In March 1900, Chick Gin, the Chinese proprietor of a lumberyard, died of bubonic plague in a flophouse…
The city of San Francisco’s quarantine of Chinatown was ruled discriminatory
In 1900, the city of San Francisco’s quarantine of Chinatown ruled discriminatory, but city health officials conducted house-to-house…
The US Congress adopted the Rayner-Harris National Quarantine Act for medical inspection of immigrants
In 1893, the U.S. Congress passed the Rayner-Harris National Quarantine Act which established procedures for medical inspection of…
The Surgeon General issued an order that required all ships entering U.S. ports be quarantined twenty days
In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison, trying to prevent av Asiatic cholera epidemic, had Surgeon General Thomas J. Parran,…
Eastern European immigrants were confined to North Brother Island near New York due to Typhus outbreak
In 1892, the port of New York imposed a 20 day quarantine on all immigrant passengers who traveled…
John B Hamilton began service as Supervising Surgeon (later known as US Surgeon General)
On Apr. 3, 1879, John B. Hamilton began service as Supervising Surgeon (later known as U.S. Surgeon General),…
Following yellow fever outbreaks, the US Congress established the National Board of Health
In 1879, following yellow fever outbreaks, the U.S. Congress established the National Board of Health, in part to…
Act to Prevent the Introduction of Contagious or Infectious Diseases into the United States went into effect
On Apr. 29, 1878, an Act to Prevent the Introduction of Contagious or Infectious Diseases into the United…
Steamer Virginia arrived in New York, its passengers riddled with cholera and ordered quarantined
On April 18, 1866, the steamer Virginia arrived in New York from Liverpool, its passengers riddled with cholera….
New York State’s Quarantine Act called for power to detain any ship entering the port of New York
In 1863, New York State’s new Quarantine Act called for a quarantine office run by a health officer…
Asiatic cholera epidemic hit New York City with particular ferocity
In 1832, Asiatic cholera epidemic hit New York City with particular ferocity. Sanitary cordons, or quarantine, were the…
The Boston Board of Health orderd all ships arriving from tropical ports be quarantined
In 1808, the Boston Board of Health ordered that, between May and October, all ships arriving from the…
Philadelphia (then capital of the US) constructed Lazaretto — an expansive quarantine station
In 1799, Philadelphia (then capital of the U.S.) construct an expansive quarantine station called the Lazaretto along the…
New York City Council established a quarantine anchorage off Bedloe’s Island
In 1738, the New York City Council established a quarantine anchorage off Bedloe’s Island, now home to the…
The Great Plague of Marseille began
On May 25, 1720, the Great Plague of Marseille began with the arrival of the Grand St Antoine…
A plague epidemic around the Baltic Sea led England to pass the Quarantine Act
In 1712, a plague epidemic around the Baltic Sea led England to pass the Quarantine Act that required…
A Massachusetts statute quarantined victims of the plague, smallpox and other infectious diseases
In 1697, a Massachusetts statute stipulated that all individuals suffering from plague, smallpox, and other infectious diseases must…
The city of Frankfurt, Germany prohibited people living in plague-infected houses from public areas
In 1666, the city of Frankfurt, Germany issued a decree prohibiting people living in plague-infected houses from visiting…
The bubonic plague arrived in the English village of Eyam
In 1665 a tailor from Eyam ordered a box of materials relating to his trade from London, that…
Russia officials organized quarantines to prevent the spread of the plague
In 1664, Russia officials organized quarantines to prevent the spread of the plague and prohibited entry into Moscow…
The English monarchy issued royal decrees calling for establishment of permanent quarantines
In 1663, the English monarchy issued royal decrees calling for the establishment of permanent quarantines for people infected…
The English enacted a quarantine on all ships bound for London
In 1663, the English enacted a quarantine on all ships bound for London requiring each to pause at…
The New York City General Assembly prohibited people from smallpox infected areas from entering the city
In 1663, during a smallpox epidemic in New York City, the General Assembly passed a law forbidding people…
After a plague epidemic kills 100,000 people in Naples, Rome begins inspecting all incoming ships
In 1656, after a plague epidemic kills 100,000 people in Naples, Rome began inspecting all incoming ships and…
Boston officials enact an ordinance to prevent infectious diseases from reaching their shore
In 1647, Boston officials enacted an ordinance requiring all arriving ships to stop at the harbor entrance or…
The first maritime quarantine opened in Marseilles, France
In 1521, the first maritime quarantine opened in Marseilles, France. The quarantine system in Marseille lasted from 1620…
Venice established the world’s first known maritime quarantine station
In 1403, Venice established the world’s first known maritime quarantine station, or lazaretto, on Santa Maria di Nazareth,…