Back to main page

 

Definition

 

A infectious, often deadly disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Bubonic plague usually affects rodents, such as rats, but fleas can transmit the disease to humans from their bite. After one individual is infected, the disease is easily passed from person to person. The plague causes fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, and painful swelling of the lymph nodes, or buboes, which is how the disease got its name. During the later stages red spots appear on the skin and the victim begins to go delirious. When the person is close to death, the red spots turn black.

 

Causes

 

The bacterium first infects rodents, usually rats. Fleas are infected by biting and feeding on the blood of the rodents. The fleas can then pass the bacteria by biting humans.

 

Symptoms

 

• Fever - all victims of bubonic plague have a fever, followed by chills.
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Swelling of lymph nodes - these are painful swellings of the lymph tissue and are sometimes called buboes.
• Prostration - complete physical and/or mental exhaustion usually as a result of delirium.
• Delirium - mental disturbance characterized by confusion, disordered speech, and hallucinations.
• Black spots on skin - when a victim first contracts the disease, they develop red spots on the skin. In the later stages of the disease, the spots start to darken. The victim dies when the spots are black.

 

History of the Disease

 

In the 1320's there was a minor plague in China. The plague did not reach Europe until 1347 AD. In that year, a massive plague swept through Europe, killing one third of the population. There were so many deaths that undertakers could not provide enough coffins for the dead. People resorted to theft for coffins. Many of the dead lay in the street unattended to. The main culprit of the plague were the Oriental Rat Fleas, carried on the back of black rats.