First cholera pandemic
Encyclopedia
The first cholera pandemic, also known as the first Asiatic cholera pandemic or Asiatic cholera, lasted from 1817 to 1824. While cholera
had spread across India many times previously, this outbreak went further; it reached as far as China
and the Caspian Sea
before receding. Thousands of people died as a result of this pandemic
, including many British
soldiers, drawing European attention. This was the first of several cholera pandemics to sweep through Asia and Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries. This first pandemic spread over an unprecedented territory, affecting almost every country in Asia.
. At festival times, pilgrims brought the disease back to other parts of India, where it would spread, then subside. The first cholera pandemic started similarly, as an outbreak that was suspected to have begun at a Hindu pilgrimage, Kumbh Mela
, on the upper Ganges River, in the town of Jessore in 1817. There were earlier outbreaks of Cholera near Purnia
in Bihar
but these are thought to be unrelated. In 1817, Cholera began spreading outside of the Ganges delta
. In September 1817, the disease had moved to Calcutta and quickly spread to the rest of the subcontinent. In 1818 the disease broke out in Bombay.
and Manila
, in spring of 1821 the disease reached Java
, Oman
, and Anhai
in China
, in 1822 the disease was found in Japan
, in the Persian Gulf
, in Baghdad
, in Syria
, and in the Transcaucacus, and in 1823 cholera reached Astrakhan
, Zanzibar
, and Mauritius
.
In 1824, the disease halted its expansion; some believe that it might have been due in part to the cold winter of 1823-24.
The movement of the British Army and Navy account for the vast distances that this pandemic covered. Hindu pilgrims carried cholera within the subcontinent, as had happened many times previous, but British troops carried it overland to Nepal and Afghanistan, and the navy and merchant ships brought it the shores of the Indian Ocean, from Africa to Indonesia, and north to China and Japan.
, 1,225 people died in eleven days in April 1821.
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
had spread across India many times previously, this outbreak went further; it reached as far as China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
before receding. Thousands of people died as a result of this pandemic
Pandemic
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic...
, including many British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldiers, drawing European attention. This was the first of several cholera pandemics to sweep through Asia and Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries. This first pandemic spread over an unprecedented territory, affecting almost every country in Asia.
Origin and initial spread
Cholera was endemic to the Lower Ganges RiverGanges River
The Ganges or Ganga, , is a trans-boundary river of India and Bangladesh. The river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. By discharge it...
. At festival times, pilgrims brought the disease back to other parts of India, where it would spread, then subside. The first cholera pandemic started similarly, as an outbreak that was suspected to have begun at a Hindu pilgrimage, Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges river.The normal Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 3 years, the Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Prayag, the Purna Kumbh takes place every twelve years, at four places Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain,...
, on the upper Ganges River, in the town of Jessore in 1817. There were earlier outbreaks of Cholera near Purnia
Purnia
Purnia is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Purnia district of the Indian state of Bihar. It is located 400 km from Patna.The Indian army, Border Security Force ,and the SSB and the have bases around the city...
in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
but these are thought to be unrelated. In 1817, Cholera began spreading outside of the Ganges delta
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
. In September 1817, the disease had moved to Calcutta and quickly spread to the rest of the subcontinent. In 1818 the disease broke out in Bombay.
Spread beyond India
In March 1820 the disease was found in Siam, in May 1820 the disease had spread as far as BangkokBangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
and Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, in spring of 1821 the disease reached Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, and Anhai
Anhai
Anhai is a town in southern Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the far southern suburbs of Quanzhou. and is separated by Weitou Bay from Kinmen, which is controlled by the Republic of China on Taiwan. Administratively Anhai is part of Jinjiang City...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, in 1822 the disease was found in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
, in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, and in the Transcaucacus, and in 1823 cholera reached Astrakhan
Astrakhan
Astrakhan is a major city in southern European Russia and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast. The city lies on the left bank of the Volga River, close to where it discharges into the Caspian Sea at an altitude of below the sea level. Population:...
, Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
, and Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
.
In 1824, the disease halted its expansion; some believe that it might have been due in part to the cold winter of 1823-24.
The movement of the British Army and Navy account for the vast distances that this pandemic covered. Hindu pilgrims carried cholera within the subcontinent, as had happened many times previous, but British troops carried it overland to Nepal and Afghanistan, and the navy and merchant ships brought it the shores of the Indian Ocean, from Africa to Indonesia, and north to China and Japan.
Total deaths
The total deaths from the epidemic remain unknown although there are some estimates of death tolls in specific areas. Some estimate that Bangkok might have suffered 30,000 deaths from the disease. In Semarang, JavaSemarang
- Economy :The western part of the city is home to many industrial parks and factories. The port of Semarang is located on the north coast and it is the main shipping port for the province of Central Java. Many small manufacturers are located in Semarang, producing goods such as textiles,...
, 1,225 people died in eleven days in April 1821.