TNT History Mini-Series: Ottoman Quarantine Measures For Mecca Pilgrims (1901)/Part I

//Ed. note: As the coronavirus outbreak rages on, herewith
TNT presents a series based on a 1901 directive from the 
Ottoman government to contain cholera, plague and yellow
fever among ship-borne pilgrims heading for Mecca.

Two quarantine stations were used for this purpose, one
at Kameran Island near the southern end of the Red Sea
and the other, Ebu Saad, near Jiddah.//

hac-related health measure click here for a previous TNT 
report on this subject.



Herewith the explanation of the directive to be implemented in
connection with the 'hac' (pilgrimage to Mecca) for the year 1317
(1901)

Istanbul

First paragraph:  The Kameran Island quarantine station will remain 

open from the beginning of the month of Receb-i Şerif until the end 

of the month of Zilhicce to accept ships arriving there for quarantine.

This means, according to the European calendar: from the fifth of 

November until 30 April.

Second paragraph: In the months Receb, Şa'ban, Ramazan, Şevval,

Zilkade and Zihicce (October-April), all ships bearing bills of health 

and carrying pilgrims that come from outside the Babülmendep (strait 

at the southern mouth of the Red Sea), with the exception of those

referred to in paragraph five of this directive, must proceed directly

to the Kameran quarantine station without stopping at any other Red

Sea port.  

The Babülmendep strait (circle).  Kameran Island (red dot

below) is located just north of Al Hudaydah:

Third paragraph:  All those Moslem passengers coming to the Hicaz

(region of Arabia where Mecca and Medina are located) will be 

considered pilgrims.

Fourth paragraph:  Pilgrim ships are those carrying pilgrims to the

Hicaz or those carrying pilgrims from the Hicaz on return.

Fifth paragraph:  Ships carrying just one pilgrim per 100 tonnage 

will not be considered 'pilgrim ships'.  These ships will be treated in 

accordance with the stipulations of the directive for the 1867 cholera 

outbreak and according to the texts of the bills of health regarding 

these ships, 

Sixth paragraph: Ships with not more than five pilgrims per 100

tonnage can proceed to the Ebu Saad quarantine station near Jiddah,

which is open all year-round, unload the pilgrims and commercial

goods destined for the Hicaz there and then continue with their voyage.

Seventh paragraph:  Small vessels carrying pilgrims will be considered

'pilgrim ships'.  These vessels that travel between ports in the Red Sea

will implement quarantine at the Ebu Saad quarantine station.  Those

coming from outside the Babülmendep must go directly to Kameran

Island and they will be rejected from entering any other port on the 

Arabian shore of the Red Sea.  

Eighth paragraph:  Pilgrim ships will be divided into three sections:

healthy, suspect and contagious passengers.

     First section: Ships coming from ports that are free of cholera,

     plague and yellow fever, and which are uncrowded, and which

     have not experienced any sort of sickness incident among those

     on board before and during the voyage or at the time of arrival 

     are considered to be disease-free. 

There are two classes of disease-free ships:

     First class: Ships coming from ports within the Red Sea, Egypt 

     and north of the Suez Canal that are free from cholera, plague and

     yellow fever; 

     

     Second class: Ships coming from ports outside the Babülmendep,

     such as from the coasts of the Persian Gulf, Arabia and Africa,

     that are free of the aforementioned diseases.

Passengers on the ships in the first class who pass health exams will

immediately be given a 'bill of health'.  All pilgrims and passengers in 

the second class of ships  will be examined at the quarantine station 

and remain for 24 hours so their clothes and belongings can be 

fumigated as a precaution.

//END of PART I//