Vladimir Alexandrovich Shalamov,
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Baikal State University, Irkutsk, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Some Causes and Ways of Spreading the Epidemic of Typhus in Siberia During the Civil War (1918–1920)
DOI: 10.31518/2618-9100-2024-3-14
During the Russian Civil War, typhus became an important aspect that influenced the course of military operations. The scale of epidemics of this dangerous infectious disease has assumed the character of a pandemic. In the article, the author has made an attempt to summarize diverse information about the causes of the epidemic in Siberia and the ways of spreading the disease. To this end, the role of various social strata in the epidemic movement was considered. In the course of the work, it turned out that typhus was recorded in Siberia even before the outbreak of active hostilities, but was local in nature, restrained by cash medical services. The dynamics of the incidence indicates the movement of the epidemic from west to east, which casts doubt on the thesis of the local origin of the disease. The author supports the opinion that typhus was introduced from territories controlled by the Soviet government, where this disease was widespread. Several social strata could act as carriers to the Siberian soil, which were in close contact with the population living under the rule of the Bolsheviks. A sharp increase in the number of diseases occurs in September, as well as in November-December 1918. Waves of refugees and evacuated workers and employees from the Kazan and Perm provinces are associated with this time. The same period saw the movement of Russian prisoners of war, participants in the First World War, returning from Germany and Austria-Hungary. The military personnel of Admiral A.V. Kolchak’s army also played the role of mediator. The collapse of medical services and poor sanitary control contributed to the development of the disease.
Publishing: 28/06/2024
The article has been received by the editor on 26/03/2024
How to cite: Shalamov V.A. Some Causes and Ways of Spreading the Epidemic of Typhus in Siberia During the Civil War (1918–1920) // Historical Courier, 2024, No. 3 (35), pp. 182–193. [Available online: http://istkurier.ru/data/2024/ISTKURIER-2024-1-14.pdf]
Links: Issue 3 2024
Keywords: history of medicine; history of healthcare; the Russian Civil War; typhus