Bubonic Plague Research Paper

The bubonic plague is a deadly bacterial disease transmitted by fleas and rats (Mayo Clinic). It is uncommon during recent times, there are only about five thousand worldwide diagnoses a year, and about nine in the United States (Mayo Clinic). During the 14th century, this disease was behind the death of one third of Europe’s population (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica). The bubonic plague is primarily a disease of rodents and fleas, and humans only accidentally enter the usual cycle of rodent-flea-rodent (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica). Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease; it has a violent history, and the severe disease can be cured (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica).
The bubonic plague is a zoonotic disease, which …show more content…
Black Death arrived in Europe when a ship ported in the Italian island of Sicily. The ship was full of sailors with the plague, most of which were dead (History.com Staff). Sicilian officials got the boats to leave the harbor, but it was too late (History.com Staff). Even before the ships arrived in Italy, the Black Death was killing many in Asia (History.com Staff). People around the world had heard of the “Great Pestilence” killing people across China, India, Persia, Syria, and Egypt (History.com Staff). In Europe, Black Death was spreading rapidly (History.com Staff). People would transmit the disease by simply touching someone (History.com Staff). Since nobody knew about the bubonic plague, they thought it was a punishment from God for not being the best they could be (History.com Staff). The people of some towns would purge criminals, believing they were the cause of the epidemic; even ethnic groups were purged (History.com Staff). People completely avoided contact with others, and sometimes left their families and towns (History.com Staff). By 1350, the major bubonic plague epidemic was over, and around 20 million Europeans died (History.com