Smallpox in Latah County

Moscow, Idaho, October 26, 1899.

Sir: Acknowledging your circular letter (initial G. T. N.), I offer the following report: Latah County, Idaho, has about 20,000 population; Moscow, county seat, 5,000 population. Thirty (discovered) cases of smallpox have existed in this county in the last three months; none in the city of Moscow. No deaths. One death occurred 10 miles from Moscow, near Johnson, Whitman County, Wash., just across State line. About 1,400 vaccinations have been made in this county in past two months. Wherever I have had authority I have rigidly enforced quarantine rules with most happy results. Have enforced vaccination as far as I could, but we are not backed by law, and I find quite some resistance in this matter.

The disease has been of a most mild nature even in those not protected by vaccination - nearly all cases a mild discrete form. Great difficulty has been encountered in convincing the laity that the disease is genuine variola. In the past week 3 new cases have occurred at Kendrick, a town of this county 25 miles from Moscow. Twenty-two cases all told have occurred at Kendrick, as I am informed by resident physicians of that place. Kendrick's population, about 600. No quarantine enforced there until I instituted it, since when the disease has rapidly decreased.

Respectfully submitted,
W. W. Watkins, M. D.,
Health Officer Latah Countym, Idaho, and city of Moscow.

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Contributed 2021 Apr 14 by Norma Hass, extracted from Internet Archive, Public Health Reports (1896-1970), Smallpox in Latah County, Idaho.

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