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Laboratory Techniques Used to Maintain and Differentiate Biotypes of Vibrio cholerae Clinical and Environmental Isolates
07:58

Laboratory Techniques Used to Maintain and Differentiate Biotypes of Vibrio cholerae Clinical and Environmental Isolates

Published on: May 30, 2017

[Cholera hospitals in Bergen]

P Oeding1

  • 1Avdeling for mikrobiologi og immunologi, Gades Institutt, Universitetet i Bergen.

Tidsskrift for Den Norske Laegeforening : Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin, Ny Raekke
|December 10, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Bergen established its first cholera hospital in 1848, providing 200 beds for its population. Despite plans for more, only three cholera hospitals were ultimately utilized.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Medical History

Context:

  • Historical context of cholera outbreaks in Bergen, Norway.
  • Establishment of public health infrastructure during epidemics.
  • Challenges in managing infectious disease outbreaks in urban settings.

Purpose:

  • To document the establishment and capacity of cholera hospitals in Bergen during the 1848 epidemic.
  • To analyze the preparedness of Bergen's healthcare system for cholera.
  • To provide historical insights into public health responses to cholera.

Summary:

  • Discussions for a cholera hospital in Bergen began in 1831, but action was only taken in 1848.
  • A Board of Health was appointed on December 18th, 1848, leading to the establishment of the Christi Krybbe hospital and two others.
  • These three hospitals offered a total of 200 beds for a population of 24,000, indicating a relatively well-equipped response.
  • Further plans for cholera hospitals, including one outside the city to prevent re-infection, were considered but not implemented.

Impact:

  • Highlights Bergen's historical public health infrastructure and response capabilities during a major epidemic.
  • Provides data on hospital bed capacity relative to population during a cholera outbreak.
  • Informs understanding of historical disease management strategies and their limitations.

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