An abandoned island with a dark history in the heart of New York

In the small navigable strait of New York, between the Bronx and Ricker Island, is the small island of North Brother Island. Initially, it was uninhabited, but in 1885 it was decided to build an infectious diseases hospital here to treat smallpox. The island was surrounded by water on all sides, so it was not difficult to observe quarantine on it.

Subsequently, the hospital was reprofiled for the treatment of various types of viral diseases. And her most famous patient was Mary Mallon. She is considered the first asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever in the United States. At first, she worked as a cook in New York, as a result of which she infected 47 people with her illness, three of whom died. So, the people of the woman received the nickname Typhoid Mary. As soon as the authorities revealed this ailment from her, they imprisoned her in a hospital on the island mentioned above. Mary Mallon categorically refused to admit the presence of the disease and constantly argued with doctors. After 3 years, the doctor nevertheless decided to meet her and wrote her out of quarantine, but on condition that she would follow all safety precautions so as not to infect others, and would never again work as a cook. Mary, of course, agreed to all the conditions and even took the oath, however, leaving the confinement, she immediately changed her name and got into a restaurant. After that, the stubborn woman managed to infect another 25 people. She was again sent to the hospital, but forever. Because of her perseverance, Mary lived in the hospital until the age of 69, until she died of pneumonia.

Before the start of World War II, the North Brothers Infectious Disease Hospital was closed. With the advent of peace, veterans moved here to live, but when the problem of a nationwide housing shortage was resolved, all the inhabitants from the island were resettled and the land was empty. However, it was not empty for long, in the 1950s a treatment center for teenage drug addicts was opened here. But, it is worth noting that after about 10 years it was closed.

Since then, the island has been uninhabited. It is closed to the public, guarded by the police and coast guard. Although, nevertheless, there are people who manage to slip on it and take stunning photographs of the North Brothers abandoned by all.