Black Death
Savannah Swift & Cody Spicer
What is the Plague?
The plague is a serious bacterial infection that can be deadly.Sometimes referred to as the ''Black Death'' the disease is caused by bacteria called Yersinia pestis,This bacteria is usually found on animals all around the world and transmitted to humans by fleas.
Large populations,Many rodents,And poor sanitation are more at risk to get the plague.
In medieval times the plague was responsible for killing millions of people in Europe.Today there are only 1,000 to 3,000 cases reported worldwide each year,with the highest incidence in Africa.
Types Of Plague
There are three basic types of plague.
Bubonic Plague-The most common type of plague is the bubonic plague.People usually got it from infected rodents but the rare case they could have got it is if they came in contact with a infected person. Bubonic plague infects your immune system causing inflammation.If it isn't treated quickly it will travel to the blood and cause two other plagues to become, septicemic plague, pneumonic plague.
Pneumonica Plague-This is were you get bacteria multiplied in the lungs which is the most serious disease.when a person coughs it is exposed in the air people who breathe this air can get the same the they had which can lead to an epidemic.
Septicemic Plague-This is were the bacteria multiplies in the bloodstream.When untreated bubonic and pneumonica is not treated it can lead to septicemic plague.
How Plague Spreads
It is rare for bubonic or septicemic plague to spread from one person to another.
Bubonic Plague Symptoms
Symptoms of bubonic plague generally appear within two to seven days and include:
- fever and chills
- headache
- muscle pain
- general weakness
- seizu
- You may also experience painful, swollen lymph glands, called buboes. These typically appear in the groin, armpits, neck, or site of the insect bite or scratch. The buboes are what gives bubonic plague its name.res
Pneumonic Plague Symptoms
Pneumonic plague symptoms may appear as quickly as one day after exposure to the bacteria and include:
- trouble breathing
- chest pain
- cough
- fever
- headache
- overall weakness
- bloody sputum (saliva and mucus or pus from the lungs)
Septicemic Plague Symptoms
-
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- nausea and vomiting
- fever and chills
- weakness
- bleeding (blood may not be able to clot)
- shock