EFFECT OF GEOGRAPHY ON THE SPREAD OF EPIDEMIC DISEASES: PLAGUE OUTBREAK IN ANZOB IN SAMARCAND PROVINCE (1898)

Throughout the 19th century, epidemics such as cholera, plague, and influenza emerged in Asia and, exhibiting pandemic characteristics, spread to Africa, Europe, and America. These outbreaks were facilitated by trade routes, wars, migrations, and expanding transportation networks, affecting vast geographical regions. The plague outbreak that began in China in 1893 rapidly spread through trade networks and human mobility, reaching other territories. By 1896, it had caused a major crisis in Bombay, a densely populated commercial hub. The plague, which caused the loss of thousands of lives in the city, was not confined to India and evolved into a global pandemic. By the late 19th century, the plague also made its presence felt in the region of Turkestan and became a significant threat. Epidemics in various regions resulted in high mortality rates, profoundly impacting societies and compelling administrative authorities to implement diverse public health policies. In response, quarantine measures, local health interventions, and medical treatments gained increasing importance in disease control efforts. Within this context, the bubonic plague outbreak that occurred in 1898 in Anzob, a village in the Samarkand Province, holds significance both in terms of the region’s geographical conditions and the interventions of the Russian administration. Anzob, an isolated and mountainous village, exhibited distinct patterns of disease transmission due to its settlement structure, limited transportation routes, and climatic conditions. The Russian government’s efforts to control the outbreak included strict quarantine measures, the isolation of infected areas, and the implementation of public health regulations, all of which played a crucial role in containing the disease. This study examines the bubonic plague outbreak in Anzob within the framework of the relationship between geography and the spread of infectious diseases, focusing on the measures taken to mitigate the epidemic. Furthermore, it explores the role of geographical factors in shaping the trajectory of the disease, the influence of environmental conditions on epidemic control, and the effectiveness of the Russian administration’s public health policies.