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Contact tracing 117 years ago
In Sudan, in late July of 1903, a case of smallpox was found in the town of Omdurman, across the river from Khartoum where the Blue and White Nile meet. Within hours, this case was followed by two more, both children.
After confirming that first case, Dr. John B. Christopherson, one of only four British physicians at that time in Sudan and head of the newly formed Sudan Medical Service, pressed his staff, Dr. Hasan Zaki, an Egyptian, and several Syrian and Sudanese medical workers into action. They traced the infection to visitors from another town, they limited the movement of troops and workers, inspecting, vaccinating and quarantining suspects, all in the space of a few hours.
They placed those infected in a vacant courtyard, enclosed by a residence (a ). Vaccination checks were made and if the mark on
