HEALTH – Cholera & Typhoid

CHOLERA & TYPHOID         

During September 1854, Zetland Place (now South Terrace), became the focus of attention for an outbreak of Cholera within the town, basically put down to poor sanitation. Living standards in some parts of the town would be by today’s standards declared appalling. It would appear in most of the cases, because of the low standards to some extent both of the diseases were self inflicted.

Fresh water would appear to have been the main causes of why the outbreaks occurred along with records that state that the fisherman’s wife’s would take in washing from the crew of ships anchored off Redcar. Eight deaths were recorded in the town with 18/21 other reported cases.

A rapid response came from the owner of the land Earl Zetland in that, all the houses in the original Zetland Place were demolished and later replaced, being rebuilt within yards of the original location. Following the Cholera outbreak shortly afterwards the town was also struck with a Typhus outbreak, mainly to the poorest parts of the town. Reported were thirty three cases with three deaths. Both outbreaks were put down to poor water supplies and sanitation.

As a result of these outbreaks Redcar was given its own Local Heath Management Board, and it would appear from then on improvements to the town began to take place

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dean February 4, 2010 Doctors & Health