Tai Ping Shan in 1894, the time of the plague outbreak. Photos: Institut Pasteur; SCMP; Bruce Yan
Tai Ping Shan in 1894, the time of the plague outbreak. Photos: Institut Pasteur; SCMP; Bruce Yan
Alexandre Yersin outside the hut in which he made his groundbreaking discovery, near Kennedy Town Hospital.
Alexandre Yersin outside the hut in which he made his groundbreaking discovery, near Kennedy Town Hospital.
A coffin is loaded onto a cart.
A coffin is loaded onto a cart.
Colonial authorities disinfect Tai Ping Shan during the 1894 outbreak.
Colonial authorities disinfect Tai Ping Shan during the 1894 outbreak.
A street in the plague-afflicted district stands deserted.
A street in the plague-afflicted district stands deserted.
Japanese bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato.
Japanese bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato.
Displays at the "Plagues from the Plague to New Emerging Infectious Diseases" exhibition, at the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, include a Carl Zeiss microscope that belonged to Yersin (above) and dolls clad in period costumes that were designed to repel the disease.
Displays at the "Plagues from the Plague to New Emerging Infectious Diseases" exhibition, at the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, include a Carl Zeiss microscope that belonged to Yersin (above) and dolls clad in period costumes that were designed to repel the disease.
Displays at the "Plagues from the Plague to New Emerging Infectious Diseases" exhibition, at the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, include a Carl Zeiss microscope that belonged to Yersin and dolls (above) clad in period costumes that were designed to repel the disease.
Displays at the "Plagues from the Plague to New Emerging Infectious Diseases" exhibition, at the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, include a Carl Zeiss microscope that belonged to Yersin and dolls (above) clad in period costumes that were designed to repel the disease.
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When death came calling: how the plague swept through Hong Kong

It has been 120 years since the plague darkened our shores, bringing with it a brilliant young scientist who would make a groundbreaking discovery here. Sarah Lazarus looks at its history and the threat posed by a disease that refuses to die

Sarah Lazarus
Sarah Lazarus

Updated: 11:36am, 13 Feb, 2015

Why you can trust SCMP
Tai Ping Shan in 1894, the time of the plague outbreak. Photos: Institut Pasteur; SCMP; Bruce Yan
Tai Ping Shan in 1894, the time of the plague outbreak. Photos: Institut Pasteur; SCMP; Bruce Yan
Alexandre Yersin outside the hut in which he made his groundbreaking discovery, near Kennedy Town Hospital.
Alexandre Yersin outside the hut in which he made his groundbreaking discovery, near Kennedy Town Hospital.
A coffin is loaded onto a cart.
A coffin is loaded onto a cart.
Colonial authorities disinfect Tai Ping Shan during the 1894 outbreak.
Colonial authorities disinfect Tai Ping Shan during the 1894 outbreak.
A street in the plague-afflicted district stands deserted.
A street in the plague-afflicted district stands deserted.
Japanese bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato.
Japanese bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato.
Displays at the "Plagues from the Plague to New Emerging Infectious Diseases" exhibition, at the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, include a Carl Zeiss microscope that belonged to Yersin (above) and dolls clad in period costumes that were designed to repel the disease.
Displays at the "Plagues from the Plague to New Emerging Infectious Diseases" exhibition, at the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, include a Carl Zeiss microscope that belonged to Yersin (above) and dolls clad in period costumes that were designed to repel the disease.
Displays at the "Plagues from the Plague to New Emerging Infectious Diseases" exhibition, at the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, include a Carl Zeiss microscope that belonged to Yersin and dolls (above) clad in period costumes that were designed to repel the disease.
Displays at the "Plagues from the Plague to New Emerging Infectious Diseases" exhibition, at the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, include a Carl Zeiss microscope that belonged to Yersin and dolls (above) clad in period costumes that were designed to repel the disease.
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