Bubonic Plague In The 21st Century Essay

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In the 21st century, people never hear about massive plague outbreaks in the world thanks to modern medicine. However in the 15th century, the bubonic plague was a highly contagious diseases that started out with symptoms of a cold but led to death. With unadvanced medicine, the hundred thousands of people infected could not be treated. Many times over the course of history in Europe and Asia, thousands of people lots their lives in the massive wipe outs that were caused by the bubonic plague. The plague was already on the decline around September of 1666 when the Great Fire erupted. The Great Fire killed bacteria that ended major plagues in London because the fire destroyed plague ridden houses and burning is scientifically proven to kill bacteria. The Great Fire of London freed London of the plague of 1665 and prevented other plagues in the future by destroying the architecture and minimal sewage system in the city. A plague can be spread by airborne disease or fleas. In this cases of the 1666 plague, it was spread by fleas carried by primarily rodents. Also when dogs and cats were killed because citizens believed that they were the reason for the plague, the rat population increased. Scientists suggest that with the increased population of rats, their fleas would not infect humans because they were already attached to the rat. If a plague is caused by airborne disease it is most likely caused by poisonous vapors in the air, or air pollution. Many plagues have stormed throughout Europe over the centuries. But the worst in London’s since the black death of 1348 would be the plague of 1665. Multiple bubonic plagues killed around 400,000 people throughout the 1600s. About 60% of people lost at least one family member to the plague. One third of London’s population at the time died from the plague. The plague started in early 1665, the peak of the plague was around August of 1665, the decline began in late August of 1666, and the last few recorded deaths were in late December 1666. Just when London thought the faze of fear, sadness, and despair was over, all of these emotions were flooded back into the city in early September of 1666. The Great Fire of London was started in a bakery on September 2, 1666. …show more content…
After a dry summer when water was scarce, there were abnormally strong winds coming from the east, this allowed the fire to rage for three days and scorch up to 13,200 houses in London. Around 60,000 to 80,000 people lost their homes. The newer brick houses defense was stronger against the fire than the older wooden houses. Many people tried to flee to the countryside where villages were more open to taking in refugees than during the plague. Many speculated that a foreigner set the fire. Londoners found their foreign scapegoat, a Frenchman was accused and hanged in October 1666 for his crime of setting the fire. London, slowly regaining strength, put in place the Rebuilding Act of 1667 to help start the reconstruction process. In the Act was a new city plan to help prevent another fire of this size from happening. The rebuilding for the new city layout cost approximately ₤10 million for public works. Private household and companies had to pay for their own rebuilding projects but public works such as churches, company halls, and the Royal Exchange were paid for by public funds and taxes on coal. These projects were funded by the taxes on coal. St. Paul’s Cathedral was also destroyed in the massive fire and it took about thirty five years to rebuild. Many times throughout history, heat has proven to be an effective method of killing bacteria. Boiling water was used by pioneers to purify and eliminate the salt from the water. Dry heat is scientifically proven to kill or oxidize bacteria. Oxidization breaks down molecular structures into carbon dioxide, water, and other stable compounds. With the massive blaze of the fire, temperatures were high enough to burn off any bacteria in the street and surrounding houses. Normally a building fire’s temperature is around 1,800 degrees fahrenheit. Most bacteria die at around 180 degrees fahrenheit,

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