Acacio Gabriel Viegas

Acacio Gabriel Viegas (1 April 1856 – 21 February 1933) was a prominent medical doctor and bacteriologist from Goa, India. He is best known for his discovery of the bubonic plague outbreak in Mumbai in 1896, which led to significant efforts to combat the disease and ultimately saved countless lives.

Early Life and Education

Viegas was born in Goa, then a Portuguese colony, on 1 April 1856. He completed his early education in Goa before moving to Mumbai for higher studies. He graduated from Grant Medical College, one of the oldest institutions teaching Western medicine in Asia, in 1879.

Career

After graduation, Viegas started his medical practice in Mandvi, a densely populated area in Mumbai. In 1896, he identified the outbreak of the bubonic plague, a highly infectious and often deadly disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Despite initial resistance from the British authorities, his persistent efforts led to the confirmation of the plague outbreak by the Plague Research Commission.

Viegas is credited with treating and saving many lives during the plague outbreak. He also advocated for improved sanitation and living conditions as a means to prevent further outbreaks. His contributions to the field of medicine and public health were recognized by the British authorities, who awarded him the title of Knight Bachelor in 1906.

Legacy

Viegas' contributions to medicine and public health continue to be recognized today. A statue of him stands in Mumbai, and a street in the city is named after him. His work during the plague outbreak is considered a significant event in the history of public health in India.

See Also

• History of medicine in India
• Public health in India
• Bubonic plague