Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 419 The Epidemic
"I suggest that the entire colony area be placed under full martial law immediately."

At noon on the eve of the Lunar New Year, just as families were preparing to celebrate the New Year, a small boat entered the Yuzhou Fort Wharf. Four epidemic prevention officers in dark uniforms hurriedly disembarked on the damp wooden planks. Without stopping, they boarded a carriage and rushed to the Colonization Area Administrative Building to meet Commissioner Han.

Upon meeting Han Jian, Cai Shuigen, the head of the epidemic prevention and health department of the colony, solemnly suggested to him: "...In addition, we also need to report the epidemic situation here to the central headquarters so that the whole country can make the necessary epidemic prevention preparations and prevent the smallpox epidemic from spreading to other regions."

"Is it really that serious?" Han Jian rubbed his forehead and vigorously massaged his temples, which were feeling tight.

The faint sounds of children playing and firecrackers drifted in from outside the window, a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere inside the meeting room.

Yesterday, he led a group of officials from the settlement area to visit several immigrant settlements under his jurisdiction, extending his regards to local grassroots officials and new immigrants, and expressing the government's care and concern.

On a whim, he stayed at a settlement and joined many immigrants for a lively banquet, drinking a lot of wine. It wasn't until this morning that he returned to Yuzhou with a slight hangover.

I hadn't slept long at the Commissioner's Residence when my assistant woke me up again, and I rushed to the Administration Building to meet with the epidemic prevention personnel who had just finished their investigation in Yongning.

In fact, over the past decade or so, several outbreaks of infectious diseases such as smallpox, typhus, and typhus have occurred in various parts of Xinhua, including the Yongning colonization area, causing the deaths of a large number of local indigenous people.

However, these successive outbreaks did not spread on a large scale within the Xinhua-controlled area, and the number of immigrant deaths remained at a very low level.

During this period, while the Ming Dynasty and Europe were still ravaged by the Black Death (i.e., plague) and smallpox, with sewage flowing through city streets, garbage piling up, and the general public lacking hygiene awareness, Xinhua, far away on the west coast of the New Continent, had already established a near-modern epidemic prevention system, which effectively controlled the spread of various infectious diseases.

In the early days, when Xinhua's population was still small, the health and epidemic prevention department formulated many strict epidemic prevention regulations and forced all residents within its jurisdiction to comply unconditionally with extremely harsh rules.

According to the Xinhua Health and Epidemic Prevention Order, all settlements within the territory must maintain necessary cleanliness, and towns have dedicated sanitation workers who collect garbage daily and transport it to designated landfills; indiscriminate dumping is strictly prohibited.

Towns with a population of more than 500 people should establish necessary sewage systems, dig or bury drainage ditches (pipes) to prevent sewage from stagnating in residential areas and minimize the breeding environment for mosquitoes and flies.

For individuals, the government advocates "drinking hot water and taking frequent baths." Public bathhouses are widespread in major settlements. Immigrants need to clean their bodies regularly to reduce dirt and bacteria and avoid contracting typhoid salmonella.

Ten years ago (1630), a large-scale smallpox epidemic broke out among the indigenous tribes near Guangfeng County (now Saanitch, Vancouver Island), lasting for several months and causing more than 8,000 deaths.

At that time, the Xinhua government immediately launched a smallpox vaccination program, vaccinating thousands of immigrants within its jurisdiction and enabling them to safely weather the smallpox epidemic.

Subsequently, all new immigrants were required to undergo vaccination upon arrival to prevent smallpox.

The government established a special "vaccination bureau" for this purpose, which was operated by trained medical officers and epidemic prevention personnel, who also recorded the names of those vaccinated, the time of vaccination, and their reactions.

Compared to Europe, which still relied on folk remedies or "bloodletting therapy," Xinhua's vaccination program almost eradicated smallpox within its borders.

Even if there were occasional lesions or malignant infections, the mortality rate was far lower than that of the Ming Dynasty and Europe.

Xinhua's government health and epidemic prevention department has also formulated numerous emergency mechanisms in response to any infectious disease outbreaks within the country.

The epidemic area was sealed off, quarantine stations were set up in the surrounding area, and people were prohibited from entering or leaving at will. Residents of the epidemic area were also strictly restricted in their range of activities in order to control the epidemic within a limited area as soon as possible.

Within the epidemic area, closed-off "epidemic prevention camps" were set up to centrally treat patients and prevent cross-infection within families and residential areas.

Those who died from the epidemic were not allowed to be buried in the ground; they had to be cremated and buried deep to prevent the spread of germs.

In order to effectively prevent and control the epidemic among all citizens, the health department has also printed a special "Epidemic Prevention Booklet" to promote epidemic prevention knowledge to the public in simple and easy-to-understand language and pictures.

Local officials would also educate new immigrants on hygiene, emphasizing that "prevention is better than cure."

The settlements have set up part-time "sanitation inspectors" to patrol streets, markets, and residential areas, and to admonish or fine those who urinate or defecate indiscriminately or dump waste indiscriminately.

In contrast, European cities at that time were still shrouded in stench, with excrement piling up on the streets of London and Paris and rat infestations rampant. However, within Xinhua's territory, due to strict sanitation management and a scientific epidemic prevention system, the probability of outbreaks of many infectious diseases such as typhus, typhus, and plague was greatly reduced.

Xinhua's health and epidemic prevention department has also established an epidemic reporting mechanism. Medical officers or medical personnel in each settlement are required to regularly report on the disease treatment situation in their jurisdiction. Once any abnormality is found, the epidemic prevention departments at all levels will immediately intervene to investigate. After receiving a report of a smallpox outbreak in Shadianzhai, Yongning Town, half a month ago, the Yongning Bay Colonization Area Epidemic Prevention Bureau immediately dispatched an epidemic investigation team, which rushed to the scene as soon as possible.

Under the protection of more than ten armed militiamen, the investigation team went deep into the indigenous tribes within a radius of more than ten kilometers around Shadianzhai to conduct on-site investigations into the spread of smallpox.

As a result, after visiting more than ten tribes, the investigation team immediately realized the seriousness of the epidemic.

"Preliminary estimates suggest that the smallpox epidemic has spread extensively in the vast area south of Shadianzhai, and the number of infections may exceed our expectations," Cai Shuigen said solemnly. "Moreover, the epidemic is spreading very rapidly, and the mortality rate is extremely high. We have investigated more than a dozen indigenous tribes, and the mortality rate in all of them exceeds 30%. In some severely affected tribes, the infection rate has even exceeded 60%..."

"Can you determine where this outbreak came from?" Han Jian interrupted him impatiently. "Have any smallpox cases been found in our Yongning Bay colonization area?"

"On our way back, we also conducted some analysis..." Cai Shuigen looked at his companions and said in a low voice, "This smallpox outbreak is very likely to have come from... the south, or the Mexican region. As for our Yongning Bay settlement, so far, no immigrants have been found to be infected with smallpox."

"Moreover, as soon as the epidemic was reported, the two settlements of Shadian and Shiping (now Piedmont) acted very quickly, immediately blocking the passages with the surrounding indigenous tribes and reporting the epidemic. In addition, all immigrants were vaccinated against smallpox after arriving in our Xinhua, and thus had a certain degree of immunity, which prevented smallpox from spreading in the settlement area."

"So, the smallpox outbreak in the indigenous tribes came from the Spanish?" Han Jian asked with skepticism. "We are almost a thousand kilometers away from Mexico. How could smallpox have spread to Yongning?"

"Commissioner, the indigenous people around Yongning Bay have always had a tradition of traveling and trading in all directions." Yan Zhongmin, the head of the Agricultural, Industrial and Trade Department, whispered a reminder: "Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that some indigenous tribes traveled to the south by land or water, selling our Xinhua goods to the inland hinterland and even the southern regions, and thus indirectly bringing back the smallpox virus."

"So, there's a high chance that a smallpox outbreak will occur in Mexico, right?" Han Jian turned to Cai Shuigen and asked thoughtfully.

"Yes, it should be, and the probability is very high." Cai Shuigen thought for a moment and then gave a positive answer.

"Oh, right," Han Jian remembered something, "those natives who first submitted to us didn't get smallpox after being vaccinated with cowpox, right?"

"Not yet."

"Then it's alright." Han Jian said with a relaxed expression: "Issue an epidemic prevention and control order to all settlements: First, before the epidemic subsides, prohibit any contact between any indigenous tribes, including the normal exchange of supplies and personnel."

"Second, all settlements will implement a 'group responsibility' system, with a quarantine station set up for every ten households, and roll call checks conducted twice a day, morning and evening. If any infected patients are found within the jurisdiction, they will be immediately isolated and treated to prevent the spread of the epidemic."

"Third, requisition four to five merchant ships to form a patrol fleet, blockade the south bank of Yongning Bay, and prohibit the natives from sailing around recklessly."

"Yes, Commissioner." The group bowed in response.

"Alright, everyone disperse. Take care of your tasks and get ready for the New Year." With that, Han Jian turned to leave the conference room.

"Commissioner, according to the epidemic prevention regulations, we need to report this outbreak to the central government..." Cai Shuigen hurriedly called out to Han Jian.

"Is it necessary?" Han Jian smiled and shook his head: "Although there has been a smallpox outbreak, no immigrants in my Yongning Colonization Area have been infected with the disease, so the situation is not serious. As long as we maintain border control, tighten the fences, and prevent the natives from entering, the epidemic will naturally dissipate in two or three months."

If this epidemic is reported, it might affect this year's immigration allocation!

"Commissioner, although this smallpox outbreak has not yet affected our Yongning Bay settlement area, the results of our investigation of the indigenous tribes indicate that it is more severe than any previous epidemic, and more people have died."

"Okay, then write a report and submit it to me. After it's reviewed, I'll personally submit it to the central headquarters, explaining the epidemic situation here." Han Jian waved his hand dismissively.

Before leaving the conference room, his gaze swept over the "Map of Yongning Bay" hanging on the wall, lingering for a moment on the blank space in the south, and a strange smile appeared on his face.

That place, which should have been marked as a new colonial outpost to be established next year, may now become a conduit for the spread of plague.

Well, now that everyone's gone, it'll free up the space.

Another burst of firecrackers sounded outside the window, signaling that the New Year was drawing ever closer, and the festive atmosphere was growing stronger.

Deep within Yongning Bay, a terrible plague was raging, mercilessly devouring one tribe after another.
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(End of this chapter)