Epidemics in the Vilayet Of Kosovo (1877–1912)

Abstract

With the increase in activities and interaction between societies, the rate of spread of epidemics has also increased. Given that the physical structure and location of the Vilayet of Kosovo during the Ottoman period was in the middle of the Balkan Peninsula, connecting the land routes with the Central Europe, it had become a destination where epidemics spread easily. The main purpose of this paper is to analyse and evaluate epidemiological diseases in the Vilayet of Kosovo such as cholera, smallpox, dysentery, rubella. The main objective of this work is to cover the years 1877–1912. This paper, which deals with the epidemic in the Vilayet of Kosovo, investigates the historical background of the conduct of the central and local authorities as far as health policies and public health were concerned in the face of deadly infectious diseases. At this point, administrative and sanitary measures taken by the relevant institutions in the Vilayet of Kosovo had been identified, such as the employment of health personnel, the distribution of vaccines, border blockage, the restriction of the movement of people and putting them in quarantine. In addition, attention has been paid to the assessment and analysis of health services and hospital infrastructure in the Zekirja Shabani, Marigonë Rizani Vilayet of Kosovo. This study, which contributes to the knowledge of the history of epidemiology and public health in the Vilayet of Kosovo, is mainly supported by documents from the Ottoman Archives of the Presidency in Istanbul. In addition, studies, theses and research papers on epidemiology and public health in the Ottoman Empire were used.