In an attempt to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, China issued the largest quarantine in human history, locking down an estimated 45 million people.

The virus has now killed more than 360 people and spread to at least 24 countries.

The US announced plans to temporarily bar foreign nationals who have been to China in the past 14 days, and if necessary, quarantine up to 1,000 people returning to the US from China.

Quarantines have been used to prevent the spread of disease for hundreds of years. The first formal system was established in Venice during the 14th Century.

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In a matter of weeks, the Wuhan coronavirus has killed more than 360 people and infected at least 17,000. The Chinese government is scrambling to contain the disease, and in doing so, issued the largest quarantine in human history — locking down 16 cities.

On January 31, the Trump administration announced plans to temporarily bar foreign travelers who have been to China within the past 14 days, and the Pentagon is readying facilities that could quarantine up to 1,000 travelers entering the US, if necessary.

But will it work?

The idea of separating the healthy from the sick is not new. Documents dating as far back as the Old Testament contain rules for isolating people with Leprosy.

Here are some of the most prominent examples, and failures, of quarantines throughout history.