Synonyms
Infections of quarantine; Infectious diseases requiring isolation
Definition
Quarantine is a measure of isolation that is performed in order to avoid the spread of an infectious disease. The term stems from the 14th century when travelers and merchants were isolated for a period of 40 days in order to avoid plague (Black Death) epidemics. Nowadays, quarantine is used to contain yellow fever, Ebola, plague and cholera. The duration of isolation is adapted to modern requirements and depends on the incubation periods of the different pathogens.
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© 2008 Springer-Verlag
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(2008). Quarantine Diseases . In: Kirch, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Public Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5614-7_2899
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5614-7_2899
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-5613-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-5614-7
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