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A plague epidemic in voluntary quarantine
International Journal of Epidemiology
|September 1, 1986
Summary
The 1665 Eyam plague epidemic saw a heroic but misguided quarantine, likely increasing mortality. Analysis of parish records suggests a typical bubonic plague with a rodent source, not the traditional origin story.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Historical Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- The 1665 plague outbreak in Eyam, Derbyshire, resulted in an 80% mortality rate over 14 months.
- The village vicar initiated a voluntary quarantine to prevent further spread, a decision now viewed as heroic.
Observation:
- Parish registers provide data to analyze the Eyam plague's natural history under quarantine.
- The epidemic pattern aligns with typical bubonic plague, suggesting a rodent reservoir.
Findings:
- The traditional origin of the Eyam plague is improbable based on current epidemiological knowledge.
- The voluntary quarantine, while intended to protect surrounding areas, may have tragically increased mortality within Eyam.
Implications:
- Historical quarantine measures, even when well-intentioned, require careful evaluation against modern epidemiological understanding.
- The Eyam outbreak serves as a case study in the complex interplay of public health policy, community response, and disease dynamics.