Quarantine at the Eastern gate. The Italian Perspective in Alexandria, 1899-1905

Abstract

At the end of the nineteenth century, Egypt was probably the main gate to European colonialism, and an important checkpoint for plague and cholera. In order to secure public health in the Mediterranean, European powers established the Conseil Sanitaire Maritime et Quarantenaire in Alexandria. This international body soon became an arena where national interests competed with public health. Archival documents from the Italian delegation show that this was also the case for the newly formed country, aspiring at playing a role in European imperialism. However, Italian geographical advantage was jeopardized by sanitary concerns: a difficult balance between public health and international diplomacy had to be maintained in front of infectious diseases travelling through Suez.