# United States Treaty Series/Volume 1/Sanitary convention (inter-American)

This is the official United States government version published in the first volume of the United States Treaty Series (Bevans).
SANITARY CONVENTION (INTER-AMERICAN)
* Convention signed at Washington October 14, 1905
* Senate advice and consent to ratification February 22, 1906
* Ratified by the President of the United States May 29, 1906
* Ratification of the United States deposited at Washington May 29, 1906
* Entered into force April 30, 1906; for the United States May 29, 1906
* Proclaimed by the President of the United States March 1, 1909
* Replaced by convention of November 14, 1924, as amended, as between contracting parties to the later convention, except that provisions of articles V, VI, XIII–XVIII, XXV, XXX, XXXII–XXXIV, XXXVII–XLV, XLIX, and L continued in force insofar as they did not conflict with provisions of 1924 convention; replaced by International Sanitary Regulations (World Health Organization Regulations No. 2) of May 25, 1951, as amended, as between states bound by the regulations
35 Stat. 2094; Treaty Series 518
Convention
The Presidents of the Republics of Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, United States of America, and Venezuela:
Having found that it is useful and convenient to codify all the measures destined to guard the public health against the invasion and propagation of yellow fever, plague and cholera, have designated as their Delegates, to wit:
Republic of Chile, Sr. Dr. D. Eduardo Moore, Professor of the Medical Faculty, Hospital Physician;
Republic of Costa Rica, Sr. Dr. D. Juan J. Ulloa, Ex-Vice-President, Ex-Minister of the Interior of Costa Rica, Ex-President of the Medical Faculty of Costa Rica;
Republic of Cuba, Sr. Dr. D. Juan Guiteras, Member of the Superior Board of Health of Cuba, Director of the "Las Animas" Hospital, Professor of General Pathology and Tropical Medicine of the University of Havana, and Sr. ​Dr. D. Enrique B. Barnet, Executive Chief of the Health Department of Havana, Member and Secretary of the Superior Board of Health of Cuba;
Republic of Ecuador, Sr. Dr. D. Serafin S. Wither, Chargé d'Affaires and Consul-General of Ecuador in New York, and Sr. Dr. D. Miguel H. Alcívar, Member of the Superior Board of Health of Guayaquil, Professor of the Medical Faculty and Surgeon of the General Hospital of Guayaquil;
Republic of the United States of America, Dr. Walter Wyman, Surgeon General of the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service of the United States; Dr. H. D. Geddings, Assistant Surgeon General of the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service of the United States, and Representative of the United States at the Sanitary Convention of Paris; Dr. J. F. Kennedy, Secretary of the Board of Health of the State of Iowa; Dr. John S. Fulton, Secretary of the Board of Health of the State of Maryland; Dr. Walter D. McCaw, Major, Surgeon in the United States Army; Dr. J. D. Gatewood, Surgeon in the United States Navy; Dr. H. L. E. Johnson, Member of the American Medical Association (Member of the Board of Trustees);
Republic of Guatemala, Sr. Dr. D. Joaquín Yela, Consul-General of Guatemala in New York;
Republic of Mexico, Sr. Dr. D. Eduardo Licéaga, President of the Superior Council of Health of Mexico, Director and Professor of the National School of Medicine, Member of the Academy of Medicine;
Republic of Nicaragua, Sr. Dr. D. J. L. Medina, Member of the Second Pan-American Medical Congress of the City of Havana in 1901;
Republic of Peru, Sr. Dr. D. Daniel Eduardo Lavorería, Professor of the Medical Faculty, Member of the National Academy of Medicine, Physician of the "Dos de Mayo" Hospital, Chief of the Division of Hygiene of the Ministry of Fomento;
Dominican Republic, Sr. D. Emilio C. Joubert, Minister Resident in Washington; and
Republic of Venezuela, Sr. D. Nicolás Veloz-Goiticoa, Chargé d'Affaires of Venezuela,
Who, having made an interchange of their powers, and found them good, have agreed to adopt, ad referendum, the following propositions:
Chapter I
Regulations to be observed by the powers signatory to the convention as soon as plague, cholera or yellow fever may appear in their territory
SECTION I. NOTIFICATION AND SUBSEQUENT COMMUNICATIONS TO OTHER COUNTRIES
Article I. Each government should immediately notify other governments of the first appearance in its territory of authentic cases of plague, cholera or yellow fever.
​Article II. This notification is to be accompanied, or very promptly followed, by the following additional information:
* (1) The neighborhood where the disease has appeared.
* (2) The date of its appearance, its origin, and its form.
* (3) The number of established cases, and the number of deaths.
* (4) For plague: The existence among rats or mice of plague, or of an unusual mortality; for yellow fever: The existence of stegomyia fasciata in the locality.
* (5) The measures taken immediately after the first appearance.
Article III. The notification and the information prescribed in Articles I and II are to be addressed to diplomatic and consular agents in the capital of the infected country; but this is to be construed as not preventing direct communication between officials charged with the public health of the several countries.
For countries which are not thus represented, they are to be transmitted directly by telegraph to the governments of such countries.
Article IV. The notification and the information prescribed in Articles I and II are to be followed by further communications dispatched in a regular manner in order to keep the governments informed of the progress of the epidemic.
These communications, which are to be made at least once a week, and which are to be as complete as possible, should indicate in detail the precautions taken to prevent the extension of the disease.
They should set forth: First, the prophylactic measures taken relative to sanitary or medical inspection, to isolation and disinfection; Second, the measures taken relative to departing vessels to prevent the exportation of the disease, and, especially under the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 4 of Article II of this section, the measures taken against rats and mosquitoes.
Article V. The prompt and faithful execution of the preceding provisions is of the very first importance.
The notifications only have areal value if each government is warned in time of cases of plague, cholera or yellow fever and of suspicious cases of those diseases supervening in its territory. It cannot then be too strongly recommended to the various governments to make obligatory the declaration of cases of plague, cholera or yellow fever, and of giving information of all unusual mortality of rats and mice especially in ports.
SECTION II. CONDITIONS SHOWING A GIVEN TERRITORIAL AREA TO BE INFECTED, OR TO HAVE BEEN FREED FROM INFECTION
Article VII. Information of a first case of plague, cholera or yellow fever does not justify against a territorial area where it may appear, the application of the measures prescribed in Chapter II as hereinafter indicated.
Upon the occurrence of several non-imported cases of plague, or a non-imported case of yellow fever or when cases of cholera form a focus, the area is to be declared infected.
Article VIII. To limit the measures to the affected regions alone, governments should only apply them to persons and articles proceeding from the contaminated or infected areas.
By the word "area" is understood a well determined portion of territory described in the information which accompanies or follows notification, thus, a province, a state, "a government," a district, a department, a canton, an island, a commune, a city, a quarter of a city, a village, a port, a "polder," a hamlet, etc., whatever may be the extent and population of these portions of territory.
But this restriction, limited to the infected area, should only be accepted upon the formal condition that the government of the infected country shall take the necessary measures; 1, to prevent, unless previously disinfected, the exportation of articles named in 1 and 2 of Article XII, coming from the contaminated area; and 2, measures to prevent the extension of the epidemic; and provided further that there be no doubt that the sanitary authorities of the infected country have faithfully complied with Article I of this Convention.
When an area is infected, no restrictive measure is to be taken against departures from this area if these departures have occurred five days, at least, before the beginning of the epidemic.
Article IX. That an area should no longer be considered as infected, official proof must be furnished:
First, That there has been neither a death nor a new case of plague or cholera for five days after isolation, death, or cure of the last plague or cholera case. In the case of yellow fever the period shall be eighteen days, but each government may reserve the right to extend this period.
​Second, That all the measures of disinfection have been applied; in the case of plague, that the precautions against rats have been observed, and in the case of yellow fever that the measures against mosquitoes have been executed.
Chapter II
Measures of defense by other countries against territories declared to be infected
SECTION I. PUBLICATION OF PRESCRIBED MEASURES
Article X. The government of each country is obliged to immediately publish the measures which it believes necessary to take against departures either from a country or from an infected territorial area.
The said government is to communicate at once this publication to the diplomatic or consular agent of the infected country residing in its capital as well as to the International Sanitary Bureau.
The government shall be equally obliged to make known through the same channels the revocation of these measures or modifications which may be made in them.
In default of a diplomatic or consular agency in the capital, communications are made directly to the government of the country interested.
SECTION II. MERCHANDISE—DISINFECTION—IMPORTATION AND TRANSIT—BAGGAGE
Article XI. There exists no merchandise which is of itself capable of transmitting plague, cholera or yellow fever. It only becomes dangerous in case it is soiled by pestous or choleraic products, or, in the case of yellow fever, when such merchandise may harbor mosquitoes.
Article XII. No merchandise or objects shall be subjected to disinfection on account of yellow fever, but in cases covered by the previous article the vehicle of transportation may be subjected to fumigation to destroy mosquitoes. In the case of cholera and plague disinfection should only be applied to merchandise and objects which the local sanitary authority considers as infected.
Nevertheless, merchandise, or objects enumerated hereafter, may be subjected to disinfection, or prohibited entry, independently of all proof that they may or may not be infected:
1. Body linen, wearing apparel in use, clothing which has been worn, bedding already used.
When these objects are transported as baggage, or in the course of a change of residence (household furniture), they should not.be prohibited, and are to be subjected to the regulations prescribed by Article XIX.
​Baggage left by soldiers and sailors, and returned to their country after death, are considered as objects comprised in the first paragraph of No. 1 of this article.
2. Rags, and rags for making paper, with the exception, as to cholera, of rags which are transported as merchandise in large quantities compressed in bales held together by hoops.
New clippings coming directly from spinning mills, weaving mills, manufactories or bleacheries, shoddy, and clippings of new paper, should not be forbidden.
Article XIII. In the case of cholera and plague there is no reason to forbid the transit through an infected district of merchandise, and the objects specified in Nos. 1 and 2 of the preceding article if they are so packed that they cannot have been exposed to infection in transit.
In like manner, when merchandise or objects are so transported that, in transit, they cannot come in contact with soiled objects, their transit across an infected territorial area should not be an obstacle to their entry into the country of destination.
Article XIV. The entry of mechandise and objects specified in Nos. 1 and 2 of Article XII should not be prohibited, if it can be shown to the authorities of the country of destination that they were shipped at least five days before the beginning of the epidemic.
Article XV. The method and place of disinfection, as well as the measures to be employed for the destruction of rats, and mosquitoes, are to be fixed by authority of the country of destination, upon arrival at said destination. These operations should be performed in such a manner as to cause the least possible injury to the merchandise.
It devolves upon each country to determine questions relative to the payment of damages resulting from disinfection, or from the destruction of rats or mosquitoes.
If taxes are levied by a sanitary authority, either directly or through the agency of any company or agent, to insure measures for the destruction of rats and mosquitoes on board ships, the amount of these taxes ought to be fixed by a tariff published in advance, and the result of these measures should not be a source of profit for either state or sanitary authorities.
Article XVI. Letters and correspondence, printed matter, books, newspapers, business papers, etc. (postal parcels not included), are not to be submitted to any restriction or disinfection. In case of yellow fever postal parcels are not to be subjected to any restrictions or disinfection.
Article XVII. Merchandise, arriving by land or by sea, should not be detained permanently at frontiers or in ports.
Measures which it is permissible to prescribe with respect to them are specified in Article XII.
Nevertheless, when merchandise, arriving by sea in bulk (vrac) or in defective packages, is contaminated by pest-stricken rats during the passage, ​and is incapable of being disinfected, the destruction of the germs may be assured by putting said merchandise in a warehouse for a period to be decided by the sanitary authorities of the port of arrival.
It is to be understood that the application of this last measure should not entail delay upon any vessel nor extraordinary expenses resulting from the want of warehouses in ports.
Article XVIII. When merchandise has been disinfected by the application of the measures prescribed in Article XII, or put temporarily in warehouses in accordance with the third paragraph of Article XVII, the owner, or his representative, has the right to demand from the sanitary authority which has ordered such disinfection, or storage, a certificate setting forth the measures taken.
Article XIX. Baggage. In the case of soiled linen, bed clothing, clothing and objects forming a part of baggage or furniture coming from a territorial area declared contaminated, disinfection is only to be practiced in cases where the sanitary authority considers them as contaminated. There shall be no disinfection of baggage on account of yellow fever.
SECTION III. MEASURES IN PORTS AND AT MARITIME FRONTIERS
Article XX. Classification of ships. A ship is considered as infected which has plague, cholera or yellow fever on board, or which has presented one or more cases of plague or cholera within seven days, or a case of yellow fever at any time during the voyage.
A ship is considered as suspected on board of which there have been a case or cases of plague or cholera at the time of departure or during the voyage, but no new case within seven days; also such ships as have lain in such proximity to the infected shore as to render them liable to the access of mosquitoes.
The ship is considered indemne, which, although coming from an infected port, has had neither death nor case of plague, cholera or yellow fever on board, either before departure, during the voyage, or at the time of arrival, and which in the case of yellow fever has not lain in such proximity to the shore, as to render it liable, in the opinion of the sanitary authorities, to the access of mosquitoes.
Article XXI. Ships infected with plague are to be subjected to the following regulations:
* 2. The sick are to be immediately disembarked and isolated.
* 3. Other persons should also be disembarked, if possible, and subjected to an observation, which should not exceed five days dating from the day of arrival. ​
* 4. Soiled linen, personal effects in use, the belongings of crew and passengers which, in the opinion of the sanitary authorities are considered as infected should be disinfected.
* 5. The parts of the ship which have been inhabited by those stricken with plague, and such others as, in the opinion of the sanitary authorities are considered as infected, should be disinfected.
* 6. The destruction of rats on shipboard should be effected before or after the discharge of cargo, as rapidly as possible, and in all cases with a maximum delay of forty-eight hours, care being taken to avoid damage of merchandise, the vessel and its machinery.
For ships in ballast, this operation should be performed immediately before taking on cargo.
Article XXII. Ships suspected of plague, are to be subjected to the measures which are indicated in Nos. 1, 4 and 5 of Article XXI.
Further, the crew and passengers may be subjected to observation, which should not exceed five days, dating from the arrival of the ship. During the same time, the disembarkment of the crew may be forbidden, except for reasons of duty.
The destruction of rats on shipboard is recommended. This destruction is to be effected before or after the discharge of cargo, as quickly as possible, and in all cases with a maximum delay of forty-eight hours, taking care to avoid damage to merchandise, ships, and their machinery.
For ships in ballast, this operation should be done, if done at all, as early as possible, and in all cases before taking on cargo.
Article XXIII. Ships indemne from plague are to be admitted to free pratique immediately, whatever may be the nature of their bill of health.
The only regulation which the sanitary authorities at a port of arrival may prescribe for them consists of the following measures:
* 1. Medical visit (inspection).
* 2. Disinfection of soiled linen, articles of wearing apparel, and the other personal effects of the crew and passengers, but only in exceptional cases when the sanitary authorities have special reason to believe them infected.
* 3. Without demanding it as a general rule, the sanitary authorities may subject ships coming from an infected port to a process for the destruction of the rats on board before or after the discharge of cargo. This operation should be done as soon as possible, and in all cases should not last more than twenty-four hours, care being taken to avoid damaging merchandise, ships, and their machinery, and without interfering with the passing of passengers and crew between the ship and the shore. For ships in ballast, this procedure, if practiced, should be put in operation as soon as possible, and in all cases before taking on cargo.
The crew and passengers may be subjected to a surveillance, which should not exceed five days, to be computed from the date when the ship sailed from the infected port. The landing of the crew may also, during the same time, be forbidden except for reasons of duty.
Competent authority at the port of arrival may always demand, under oath, a certificate of the ship's physician, or in default of a physician, of the captain, setting forth that there has not been a case of plague on board since departure; and that no marked mortality among the rats has been observed.
Article XXIV. When upon an indemne ship rats have been recognized as pest-stricken as a result of bacteriological examination, or when a marked mortality has been established among these rodents, the following measures should be applied:
* 1. Ships with plague-stricken rats:
* (a) Medical visit (Inspection).
* (b) Rats should be destroyed before or after the discharge of cargo, as rapidly as possible, and in all cases with a delay not to exceed forty-eight hours; the deterioration of merchandise, vessels and machinery to be avoided. Upon ships in ballast, this operation should be performed as soon as possible, and in all cases before taking on cargo.
* (c) Such parts of the ship and such articles as the local sanitary authority regards as infected, shall be disinfected.
* (d) Passengers and crew may be submitted to observation the duration of which should not exceed five days dating from the day of arrival, except in special cases where the sanitary authority may prolong the observation to a maximum of ten days.
* 2. Ships where a marked mortality among rats is observed:
* (a) Medical visit (Inspection).
* (b) An examination of rats, with a view to determining the existence of plague, should be made as quickly as possible.
* (c) If the destruction of rats is judged necessary, it shall be accomplished under the conditions indicated above in the case of ships with plague-stricken rats.
* (d) Until all suspicion may be eliminated, the passengers and crew may be submitted to observation, the duration of which should not exceed five days counting from the date of arrival, except in special cases when the sanitary authority may prolong the observation to a maximum of ten days.
Article XXV. The sanitary authorities of the port must deliver to the captain, the owner, or his agent, whenever a demand for it is made, a ​certificate setting forth that the measures for the destruction of rats have been efficacious and indicating the reasons why these measures have been applied.
Article XXVI. Ships infected with cholera are to be subjected to the following regulations:
* 1. Medical visit (Inspection).
* 2. The sick are to be immediately disembarked and isolated.
* 3. Other persons ought also to be disembarked, if possible, and subjected, dating from the arrival of the ship, to an observation, the duration of which shall not exceed five days.
* 4. Soiled linen, wearing apparel, and personal effects of crew and passengers which, in the opinion of the sanitary authority of the port, are considered as infected, are to be disinfected.
* 5. The parts of the ship which have been inhabited by persons sick with cholera, or which are considered by the sanitary authority as infected are to be disinfected.
* 6. The bilge-water is to be discharged after disinfection.
The sanitary authority may order the substitution of good potable water for that which is contained in the tanks on board.
The discharge or throwing overboard into the water of a port, of dejecta, shall be forbidden unless they have been previously disinfected.
Article XXVII. Ships suspected of cholera are to be subjected to measures prescribed under Nos. 1, 4, 5 and 6 of Article XXVI.
The crew and passengers may be subjected to an observation which should not exceed five days, to date from the arrival of the ship. It is recommended during the same time to prevent the debarkation of the crew except for reasons of duty.
Article XXVIII. Ships indemne of cholera are to be admitted to free pratique immediately, whatever may be the nature of their bill of health.
The only regulations which the sanitary authority of a port may prescribe in their case are the measures provided in Nos. 1, 4 and 6 of Article XXVI.
The crews and passengers may be submitted, in order to show their state of health, to an observation, which should not exceed five days to be computed from the date when the ship sailed from the infected port.
It is recommended that during the same time the debarkation of the crew be forbidden except for reasons of duty.
Competent authority at the port of arrival may always demand, under oath, a certificate from the ship's surgeon, or, in the absence of a surgeon, from the captain, setting forth that there has not been a case of cholera upon the ship since sailing.
Article XXIX. Competent authority will take account, in order to apply the measures indicated in Articles XXI to XXVIII, of the presence of a physician on board and a disinfecting apparatus in ships of the three categories mentioned above.
​In regard to plague, it will equally take account of the installation on board of apparatus for the destruction of rats.
Sanitary authorities of such countries, where it may be convenient to make such regulations may dispense with the medical visit and other measures toward indemne ships which have on board a physician specially commissioned by their country.
Article XXX. Special measures may be prescribed in regard to crowded ships, notably emigrant ships, or any other ship presenting bad hygienic conditions.
Article XXXI. Any ship not desiring to be subjected to the obligations imposed by the authority of the port in virtue of the stipulations of the present Convention is free to proceed to sea.
It may be authorized to disembark its cargo after the necessary precautions shall have been taken; namely, First, isolation of the ship, its crew and passengers; Second, in regard to plague, demand for information relative to the existence of an unusual mortality among rats; Third, in regard to cholera, the discharge of the bilge-water after disinfection and the substitution of a good potable water for that which is provided on board the ship.
Authority may also be granted to disembark such passengers as may demand it, upon condition that these submit themselves to all measures prescribed by the local authorities.
Article XXXII. Ships coming from a contaminated port, which have been disinfected and which may have been subjected to sanitary measures applied in an efficient manner, shall not undergo a second time the same measures upon their arrival at a new port, provided that no new case shall have appeared since the disinfection was practiced, and that the ships have not touched in the meantime at an infected port.
When a ship only disembarks passengers and their baggage, or the mails, without having been in communication with terra firma, it is not to be considered as having touched at a port, provided that in the case of yellow fever it has not approached sufficiently near the shore to permit the access of mosquitoes.
Article XXXIII. Passengers arriving on an infected ship have the right to demand of the sanitary authority of the port a certificate showing the date of their arrival and the measures to which they and their baggage have been subjected.
Article XXXIV. Packet boats shall be subjected to special regulations, to be established by mutual agreement between the countries in interest.
Article XXXV. Without prejudice to the right which governments possess to agree upon the organization of common sanitary stations, each country should provide at least one port upon each of its seaboards, with an organization and equipment sufficient to receive a vessel, whatever may be its sanitary condition.
​When an indemne vessel, coming from an infected port, arrives in a large mercantile port, it is recommended that she be not sent to another port for the execution of the prescribed sanitary measures.
In every country, ports liable to the arrival of vessels from ports infected with plague, cholera or yellow fever, should be equipped in such a manner that indemne vessels may there undergo, immediately upon their arrival the prescribed measures, and not be sent for this purpose to another port.
Governments should make declaration of the ports which are open in their territories to arrivals from ports infected with plague, cholera or yellow fever.
Article XXXVI. It is recommended that in large seaports there be established:
* (a) A regular medical service and a permanent medical supervision of the sanitary conditions of crews, and the inhabitants of the port.
* (b) Places set apart for the isolation of the sick and the observation of suspected persons. In the stegomyia belt there must be abuilding or part of a building screened against mosquitoes, and a launch and ambulance similarly screened.
* (c) The necessary installation for efficient disinfection and bacteriological laboratories.
* (d) A supply of potable water above suspicion, for the use of the port, and the installation of a system of sewerage and drainage, adequate for the removal of refuse.
SECTION IV. MEASURES UPON LAND FRONTIERS.—TRAVELERS.—RAILROADS.—FRONTIER ZONES.—RIVER ROUTES
Article XXXVII. Land quarantines should no longer be established, but the governments reserve the right to establish camps of observation if they should be thought necessary for the temporary detention of suspects.
This principle does not exclude the right for each country to close a part of its frontier in case of necessity.
Article XXXVIII. It is important that travelers should be submitted to a surveillance on the part of the personnel of railroads, to determine their condition of health.
Article XXXIX. Medical intervention is limited to a visit (inspection) with the taking of temperature of travelers, and the succor to be given to those actually sick. If this visit is made, it should be combined as much as possible with the customhouse inspection to the end that travelers may be detained as short a time as possible. Only persons evidently sick should be subjected to a searching medical examination.
Article XL. As soon as travelers, coming from an infected locality, shall have arrived at their destination, it would be of the greatest utility to submit them to a surveillance which should not exceed ten or five days, counting from the date of departure, the time depending upon whether it is a question ​of plague or cholera. In case of yellow fever the period should be six days.
Article XLI. Governments may reserve to themselves the right to take particular measures in regard to certain classes of persons, notably vagabonds, emigrants and persons traveling or passing the frontier in bands.
Article XLII. Coaches intended for the transportation of passengers and mails should not be retained at frontiers.
In order to avoid this retention a system of relays ought to be established at frontiers, with transfer of passengers, baggage and mails. If one of these carriages be infected or shall have been occupied by a person suffering from plague, cholera or yellow fever, it shall be detached from the train for disinfection at the earliest possible moment.
Article XLIII. Measures concerning the passing of frontiers by the personnel of railroads and of the Post Office are a matter for agreement of the sanitary authorities concerned. These measures should be so arranged as not to hinder the service.
Article XLIV. The regulation of frontier traffic, as well as the adoption of exceptional measures of surveillance should be left to special arrangement between contiguous countries.
Article XLV. The power rests with governments of countries bordering upon rivers to regulate by special arrangement the sanitary regime of river routes.
Articles Relating to Yellow Fever
Article XLVI. Ships infected with yellow fever are to be subjected to the following regulations:
* 1. Medical visit (Inspection).
* 2. The sick are to be immediately disembarked protected by netting against the access of mosquitoes and transferred to the place of isolation in an ambulance or a litter similarly screened.
* 3. Other persons should also be disembarked if possible, and subjected to an observation of six days, dating from the day of arrival.
* 4. In the place set apart for observation, there shall be screened apartments or cages where anyone presenting an elevation of temperature above 37.6 degrees Centigrade shall be screened until he may be carried in the manner indicated above to the place of isolation.
* 5. The ship shall be moored at least two hundred metres from the inhabited shore.
* 6. The ship shall be fumigated for the destruction of mosquitoes before the discharge of cargo, if possible. If a fumigation be not possible before the discharge of the cargo, the health authorities shall order, either
* (a) The employment of immune persons for discharging the cargo, or
* (b) If non-immunes be employed they shall be kept under observation during the discharging of cargo and for six days, to date from the last day of exposure on board.
Article XLVIII. Ships indemne from yellow fever, coming from an infected port, after the medical visit (inspection), shall be admitted to free pratique, provided the duration of the trip has exceeded six days.
If the trip be shorter, the ship shall be considered as suspected until the completion of a period of six days, dating from the day of departure.
If a case of yellow fever develop during the period of observation, the ship shall be considered as infected.
Article XLIX. All persons who can prove their immunity to yellow fever, to the satisfaction of the health authorities shall be permitted to land at once.
Article L. It is agreed that in the event of a difference of interpretation of the English and Spanish texts, the interpretation of the English text shall prevail.
Transitory Disposition
The governments which may not have signed the present Convention are to be admitted to adherence thereto upon demand; notice of this adherence to be given through diplomatic channels to the government of the United States of America and by the latter to the other signatory governments.
Made and signed in the City of Washington on the 14th day of the month of October, nineteen hundred and five, in two copies, in English and Spanish respectively, which shall be deposited in the State Department of the Government of the United States of America, in order that certified copies thereof, in both English and Spanish, may be made to transmit them through diplomatic channels to each one of the signatory countries.
* [For Chile:] D Eduardo Moore
* [For Costa Rica:] Juan J. Ulloa
* [For Cuba:] Juan Guiteras E B Barnet
* [For the Dominican Republic:] Emilio C. Joubert
* [For Ecuador:] M. H. Alcívar
[For the United States:] Walter Wyman H. D. Geddings John S. Fulton Walter D. McCaw J. D. Gatewood H. L. E. Johnson, M.D.
* [For Guatemala:] Joaquín Yela
* [For Mexico:] E. Licéaga
* [For Nicaragua:] J L Medina M.D.
* [For Peru:] Daniel Edo Lavorería
* [For Venezuela:] N. Veloz Goiticoa
* ↑ Date of deposit of second ratification.
* ↑ TS 714, post, vol. 2.
* ↑ 7 UST 2255; TIAS 3625.
* ↑ The word "isolation" signifies isolation of the patient, of the persons who care for him and the forbidding of visits of all other persons, the physician excepted. By isolation in the case of yellow fever is understood the isolation of the patient in an apartment so screened as to prevent the access of mosquitoes. [Footnote in original.]
* ↑ The word "observation" signifies isolation of the passengers, either on board ship or at a sanitary station before being given free pratique. [Footnote in original.]
* ↑ The term "crew" is applied to persons who may make, or, who have made, apart of the personnel of the vessel and of the administration thereof, including stewards, waiters, "cafedji," etc. The word is to be construed in this sense wherever employed in the present Convention. [Footnote in original.]
Footnotes
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).
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