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

//Ed. note: The Ottoman government's directive for 
handling infectious diseases among Mecca pilgrims
arriving by sea gets evermore specific about precautions.//







Ninth paragraph:  Pilgrims and passengers who exhibited cholera,
plague and yellow fever while at Kameran Island but who recovered,
will serve an additional five days in quarantine in Ebu Saad quarantine
station at Jiddah.  In the event these individuals are not thoroughly
fumigated they will not be issued a 'pratika' (clean bill of health) at
Jiddah.

The pilgrims and passengers who come to Ebu Saad, their belongings
and commercial goods intended for Jiddah, must be certified with a 
'pratika' before leaving the quarantine station, on the condition that the
ship and the crew's clothing and belongings have also been fumigated.

Tenth paragraph: The length of a 'quarantine day' is 24 hours.

Eleventh paragraph:  All pilgrims coming from Egypt will be held in 

quarantine at the Ebu Saad quarantine station for 10 days. Similarly,

those who come to the Hijaz via the Suez Canal, along with pilgrims

coming from India and Java, will also have a 10-day quarantine at 

Ebu Saad quarantine station.  

Ships carrying pilgrims that come from clean ports in the north that

have undergone strict quarantine at the Suez Canal and which have

not had any contacts in Egypt, will be given 'pratika' (clean bill of 

health) at Hicaz ports after being examined by a doctor.  In the event

that it is determined that Egypt's health situation is good, then these

measures may be adjusted subsequently.

Twelfth paragraph: Ships headed for Yemen that come from
countries not under quarantine, and which are not carrying
contaminated commercial goods, may dock at Hodeidah, under the
supervision of  health officials. 

Ships en route to Yemen that are carrying pilgrims and bearing
contamination-free commercial goods can proceed to Hodeidah,
accompanied by two health guardians, after the pilgrims, passengers
and crew are checked for indications of cholera, plague and yellow
fever at Kameran Island and after the crew's clothing and belongings
have been fumigated.  Only then can the commercial goods be taken
to Hodeidah.

However, when those pilgrims and passengers who have completed
their quarantine re-board the ship for the trip to Hodeidah, the ship's
agent and captain must present a declaration to the Kameran Island
health inspector stating that the ship will return directly to Kameran
Island from Hodeidah before proceeding to Jiddah.  In this way, the
time spent at Hodeidah for commercial activity will be deducted from
the ship's quarantine days. 

Thirteenth paragraph:  If there are no incidents of  cholera, plague
and yellow fever among those on ships coming from ports where
cholera is present, either during the voyage or upon arrival, then
commercial goods can remain on the ship and will be exempted from
undergoing disinfecting and other health measures.  Nevertheless, old
and used items, as well as old rugs and carpets, and unwashed cargo,
old cotton, feathers and hair will be fumigated.

Ships arriving from ports where cholera, plague and yellow fever are
prevalent but which are carrying commercial goods that are
contamination-free, can have the goods remain on the ship and be
exempted from being disinfected if there have been no incidents of
these diseases during the voyage.

However, contaminated commercial goods must be off-loaded at the
quarantine station, left out in the open air, disinfected and subjected
to the relevant health regulations.  In addition, ships arriving from
ports where cholera, plague and yellow fever are present are absolutely
forbidden to carry untanned leather and fresh skins, fresh animal
fragments, hair, raw goods, hooves and old sacks.

//END of PART III//