Marseille has been exposed to epidemics for two millennia, including plague, cholera and yellow fever. This long-standing exposure to epidemics has given the people of Marseilles a particular expertise in fighting epidemics. Lazarets and other quarantine measures were implemented as a response to preventing the further spread of the disease in the community. The Institut Hospitalier Universitaire Méditerranée Infection is paving the way today, with its responses built on the region's long history and knowledge of epidemics, infectious diseases and medical microbiology. Keywords: Cholera, epidemics, infectious diseases, Marseille, medical microbiology, plague, The Institut Hospitalier Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, yellow fever