The SAINT GEORGE QUARANTINE STATION OF PIRAEUS, GREECE (1865-1947)

Saint George Quarantine Station

Authors

  • Anna Rosenberg Programme of Postgraduate Education (MSc) ‘International Medicine – Health Crisis Management’, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • Costas Tsiamis Programme of Postgraduate Education (MSc) ‘International Medicine – Health Crisis Management’, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.**Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
  • Effie Poulakou‑Rebela Department of History of Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • Emmanuel Pikoulis Programme of Postgraduate Education (MSc) ‘International Medicine – Health Crisis ****First Surgical Department, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. Management’, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Keywords:

Greece, History of Medicine, Public Health, Quarantine

Abstract

https://doi.org/10.31952/amha.16.2.3

For centuries, the marine quarantine system was the major protection of the public health against serious infectious diseases around the world. The present study reconstructs the history of the Quarantine Station of Piraeus, one of the largest Mediterranean ports, known as the “Lazzaretto of Saint George”, as a vital element in the maritime sanitary protection of Greece. Our research will investigate the impact left by this institution on public health, as well as on the economic life of the port of Piraeus and the adjacent capital city of Athens. With regard to the first issue, we will seek to evaluate its role in relation to major outbreaks in the capital, as well as the arrival of 1,3 million Greek refugees after the Greco-Turkish War of 1922. The opening of Suez Canal (1869) was a great challenge and the institution was problematic at administrative and sanitary levels. During 20th century, the station complied with the national public health legislation and the international sanitary conventions. Until the Second World War, the lazaretto of Saint George played a key role in both the protection of public health in general but also in the economic and industrial progress of Piraeus and Athens.

Downloads

Published

2022-09-01

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2018): Vol 16 No 2 (2018): AMHA – Acta medico-historica Adriatica

Section

Articles