By Gabriel Lake
Welcome to the Plague Island of Venice, a once thriving quarantine colony established in 1423 to fight the devastating Black Death.
As a bustling commercial center, Venice faced several waves of plague outbreaks in the 16th and 17th centuries, which led to thousands of deaths and the island of Lazzaretto Vecchio, or Old Lazzaretto, played a major role.
Today, the island’s 2.53 hectares of land harbor the remains of these victims in numerous mass burial sites. Recently, researchers from the University of South Florida launched a groundbreaking study, examining the DNA of around 900 affected individuals buried on the island.
This research offers unique insights into the evolution of the pathogen and its profound impact on the history of Venice.
Lazzaretto Vecchio: History of the Quarantine Colony
Amid the deadly spread of the Black Death, Venice established the Quarantine Colony in 1423 as a preventative measure against infectious outbreaks.
Over the centuries, the island witnessed thousands of deaths, serving the Venetians during multiple waves of plagues, according to the island’s official history.
When one of the worst outbreaks emerged in 1630, the pandemic claimed a third of the population of Venice and Bologna, leaving a devastating impact on the city’s status as a Renaissance superpower.
Lazzaretto Island Hygienic Measures
Faced with limited medical knowledge, staff on the quarantined island maintained a reasonable standard of hygiene.
Rooms were ventilated and cleaned with herbal smoke and salt water, while people washed their hands with vinegar after touching anything contaminated. Despite these efforts, the plague remained a recurring threat to the Republic of Venice.
In the study, researchers from the University of South Florida embarked on a journey to understand the evolution of the pathogen and its coexistence with humans on the island.
Through analysis of DNA sequences from around 900 victims buried over three centuries, the team gains unprecedented insight into the coevolution of pathogens and humans, unimpeded by today’s virus mutations or vaccination.
Professor Robert Tykot, an anthropology expert at the University of South Florida, highlights the innovative nature of the study, as it provides exceptional insight into the coexistence of pathogens and human populations throughout history.
Lead geneticist Professor Rays Jiang underscores the island’s uniqueness in preserving multiple pathogens, including plague, newly introduced syphilis and anthrax, which have coexisted with human populations for centuries, according to IFL Science.
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