The Bubonic Plague
The Plague is a very infectious and contaigous disease
The Plague is an infectious disease that is can be spread by making contact with someone who has it. It is caused by Yersinia Pestis, a type of bacteria, that is carried by rats and fleas. The bubonic plague can be transmitted from flea bites, contact with contaminated fluid or tissue, an example is a hunter skinning an infected rabbit, the hunter can get the plague. Also the plague can be transmitted from infectious droplets, if a person coughs that has the disease and another person breathes it they can get the plague.
Symptoms of the disease
There are many symptoms of the Bubonic Plague that can be deadly to the skin and other parts of the body. Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, chills, weakness, and swollen tender lymph glands called buboes. Other symptoms are fatigue or malaise and muscle aches.
How the disease is treated and ways to prevent getting the disease.
A person can be treated if the disease is suspected and diagnosed early, and then a health care provider can prescribe specific antibiotics. In places where plague is common a person can prevent getting the plague by avoiding being bitten by infected fleas by using repellants. Also gloves should be worn when dealing with wildlife. A person should not be in contact with rats, praire dogs and other rodents. Dogs and cats in the are should be treated with insecticides ( a substance used for killing insects) to prevent fleas.
Plague: What You Need to Know
Interesting facts
- Over 25 million people have died from it
- It was brought to Europe by merchant ships with infected rats from China in the 1300s
- It wiped out over half the European population in the 14th century
Quote
"... Such fear and fanciful notions took possesion of the living that almost all of them adopted the same cruel policy, which was entirely to avoid the sick and everything belonging to them. By so doing, each one thought he would secure his own safety. "