Epidemics throughout the history of Morocco: Epidemiological dynamics, socio-economic and political impacts

Abstract

Introduction — A crossroads between Africa, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, Morocco has been exposed to repeated waves of plague, smallpox, cholera, typhus, influenza, measles and, more recently, COVID-19 and emerging vector-borne diseases. These crises produced not only health effects but also demographic, economic, social and political disruptions.

Objective — To analyse, over the long term, the major epidemics that have affected Morocco, their determinants, their socio-economic and political consequences, and the evolution of public health responses.

Methods — A narrative synthesis based on a systematised literature search, updated to 19 August 2026. The main biomedical corpus relied on seven PubMed queries, supplemented by three queries targeting socio-economic and political impacts in Morocco and four comparative queries on social conflict, taxation, trade, labour, inequality, institutions and the Islamic world/Maghreb. PMC, WHO/IRIS, OpenEdition, IMIST-Toubkal and reference chaining served as complementary sources. The strongly overlapping result counts across queries were not summed; 50 sources were ultimately cited in the final reference list.

Results — Morocco's major crises reveal recurrent determinants: mobility, trade, ports, pilgrimage, poverty, famine, war, and territorial and environmental vulnerabilities. They disrupted production, exchange, supply, mobility and institutional functioning, while progressively stimulating quarantine, vaccination, sanitation, surveillance and, more recently, genomics. The comparative literature shows that epidemics should be regarded as amplifiers of vulnerabilities and catalysts of institutional transformation rather than as sole causes of political collapse.

Conclusion — Morocco's epidemic history highlights the enduring interdependence between health, the economy, social cohesion and state capacity. Future preparedness must combine integrated surveillance, continuity of essential services, territorial equity, institutional trust and a One Health approach.

Keywords: Morocco; history; epidemics; plague; cholera; influenza; COVID-19; socio-economic impact; governance; political instability; public health; One Health.

Received Date: April 21, 2026

Accepted Date: May 12, 2026

Published Date: June 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/840