"Urla" island, where the first scientific system of quarantine was established by the Ottomans centuries ago

With the expansion of recent talk about quarantine, due to the global spread of the emerging "Corona" virus, attention has been drawn to the history of quarantine around the world, and the facilities devoted to this purpose over the ages and past years.

In this context, Turkish media highlighted the first quarantine island, built during the reign of the Ottoman Empire, in the Orla region in the city of Izmir, western Turkey, and was known as the Ottoman quarantine island.

According to this, the island where the restoration work is taking place, was an example of an advanced quarantine system that is compatible with the current reality, despite its construction under previous conditions.

The Turkish island, built by the French in the Ottoman era, with the aim of combating infectious diseases such as cholera and plague that prevailed during that period, according to "Arabi 21" quoted from the newspaper "Yeni Shafak".

The island, in which 16 buildings will be historically modernized, in the framework of the restoration that the General Directorate of Borders and Coasts will perform, is an example of the current quarantine system despite its construction in these previous conditions.

Commenting on the matter, the director of the Urla Island Quarantine, Torgat Yilmaz, said that the first quarantine system was implemented in Izmir in 1840, while the “Quarantine” island was activated in Urla between 1869-1865.

He added that, with the rapid growth of the city of Izmir, and the growth of trade and the increase of railways at that time, it was decided to move the quarantine center to Orla Island in the state.

He pointed out that, until the year 1866 AD, there were no specific scientific standards regarding the application of quarantine and its period, adding: "The absence of these standards limits tourism, and as a result, during the Istanbul conference at that time, scientific applications began to confront cholera bacteria."

He stressed that Orla Island is the first in the application of scientific quarantine, and it is not different from the quarantine centers that we currently see, and has the same specifications that are applied today.

He pointed out that the passengers of the ships that docked on the island were transported by boat to the main building, pointing out that the system on the island is as follows:

"Personal clothes were placed in special networks in 360 degree rotating wheels, blowing hot air and carrying out steam disinfection."

"The passengers were taken to private shower rooms with towels and clogs, and then the doctor checked them."

"Travelers who are believed to be in good health will be placed in quarantine for a period of 8--10 days."

"Those who are confirmed with the disease will be placed in special care rooms for treatment. As for the dead, they will be buried in deep graves of lime."

Yilmaz pointed out that the island was built on an area of ​​323 dumdums, has 16 buildings, and can accommodate an average of 600 people, pointing out that the restoration process began on the island in April 2018, and included the redevelopment of the main building, which ended last October.

Source: Anadol