Black Death: Bubonic Plague

Black Death: Bubonic Plague

There is no doubt that this disease was deadly. Deadly and gruesome to watch.

The death rate was 90% for those exposed to the bacterium. It was transmitted by the

fleas from infected Old English black rats. The symptoms were clear: swollen lymph

nodes (buboes, hence the name), high fever, and delirium. In the worst case, the lungs

became infected and the pneumonic form was spread from person to person by coughing,

sneezing, or simply talking. From the time of infection to death was less than one week.

At its worst, the bubonic plague killed 2 million victims a year.

The plague started in the East, possibly China, and quickly spread through

Europe. Whole communities were wiped out and corpses littered the streets as there

was no one left to bury them. It began in London in the poor, overcrowded parish of St.

Giles-in-the-Field. It started slowly at first but by May of 1665, (43) had died. In June

(61,370), July (17,036) and at its peak in August, (31,159) people died. In all, 15% of the

population perished during that terrible summer.

Over one hundred animals could carry this disease, including rats and humans.

The Old English black rat was the main carrier of this specific disease. Infection occurs

from flea bites and can go from people to rats, people to people, or rats to rats. The cycle

starts when fleas drink rat blood, the bacteria multiplies within the fleas body, the flea

retains the bacteria in its body then the flea bites a human which the flea regurgitates the

blood into open wounds on the human body.