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),......
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