Origin and History of Quarantine and Related Terms
History of Quarantine, Isolation, Reverse Quarantine, Cordon Sanitaire & Protective Sequestration and their difference. Analysis and meaning of quarantine, its importance and history. Explanation of different terminologies related to quarantine. Importance of separation in pandemic, endemic and disease outbreak. History of Social Distancing.
In quarantine, a healthy or apparently healthy person or animal is kept apart, for the purpose of seeing if there is any disease present in it, it will manifest itself and it will not cause the spread of the disease to anyone else. If we talk about how it is different from them, then in quarantine, people are separated who are suspected of having come from a sick or infected environment, while in isolation, positive or sick patients are separated.
Origin and History of Quarantine
In applied language, the word quarantine means 40 days. This word came into use in the 14th-15th century when ships and people had to stop at the port without stopping the spread of the disease during the plague epidemic. Initially, this practice was for three days but later it was extended to 40.
The word quarantine was not common in Pakistan, however, this activity and the related thought definitely existed. Examples of isolation for disease purposes date back to the time of Christ. There are also examples in Islamic history. In the 18th and 19th centuries, during the spread of the plague, the Cordon Sanitaire was adopted in France and other European countries to control it. Epidemic diseases were prevented by restricting the movement of people in ordinary villages and cutting off their contact with the outside world.
Differences in Different Terms
Isolation
The process of isolating patients who have already contracted an infectious or contagious disease, so that the healthy population is protected from their spread.
Reverse Quarantine
The restriction of the movement of people or the transfer of healthy people to a safe place so that they are protected from the infected environment outside. It is also called Protective Sequestration in epidemic situations.
Cordon Sanitaire
The complete blockade of a specific geographical area or affected area so that the disease that has spread there cannot escape. Under this practice, the movement of people is strictly restricted.
Social Distancing
Maintaining a safe distance between people so that the virus cannot be transmitted from one to another through breathing or close contact.
Technical and Legal Aspects
If we talk about the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines as per 2017, then the importance of such measures has been emphasized both legally and technically to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Quarantine principles are equally important for both livestock and humans. At the time of import and export of animals, they are kept in such quarantine centers for 14 days so that the domestic livestock can be protected from external diseases.
