When people think of the Black Death, they tend to think that it was one disease, when in actuality, it was three separate forms of a disease. The first type, bubonic plague, was the most common plague, and had the lowest death rate (35-65% mortality rate). It had symptoms of headaches, chills, fever, and most noticeably enlarged and swollen lymph nodes (glands of the immune system). The second type was pneumonic plague, which was usually bubonic plague that had spread to the lungs. It usually developed from bubonic plague and had higher death rate (75-90% mortality rate). It had symptoms of chest pains, shortness of breath, and bloody/watery mucous. The third type was septicemic plague (100% mortality rate). It was the least common type of
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These rats had been bitten by fleas which contain the bacteria Yersinia pestis. These infected rats then spread the disease to people. Sanitation was at an all-time low, as many people did not bathe or even have a basic concept of personal hygiene. This helped to spread the plague, as trash and bodies littered the streets, keeping the environment suitable for disease-bearing rats. Many European countries were hard hit with the plague. For example, 90% of the population in Florence, Italy died. Nearly 3,000 independent villages in France were completely eradicated. The population of Paris decreased by 42%. Scholars estimate that before the plague there were about 500 million people alive. They also estimate that, worldwide, 155 – 220 million people died over 6 years. There were two main places where people, for the most part, survived; Poland and Milan. Poland took in many escaping Jewish families, and since they took their customs with them, they kept clean and did not spread anything. Milan, on the other hand, burned anyone who even began to show the slightest of symptoms. They also burned the infected individuals’ houses, with their families inside. This too decreased the population, but by a far less amount than the land around
These rats had been bitten by fleas which contain the bacteria Yersinia pestis. These infected rats then spread the disease to people. Sanitation was at an all-time low, as many people did not bathe or even have a basic concept of personal hygiene. This helped to spread the plague, as trash and bodies littered the streets, keeping the environment suitable for disease-bearing rats. Many European countries were hard hit with the plague. For example, 90% of the population in Florence, Italy died. Nearly 3,000 independent villages in France were completely eradicated. The population of Paris decreased by 42%. Scholars estimate that before the plague there were about 500 million people alive. They also estimate that, worldwide, 155 – 220 million people died over 6 years. There were two main places where people, for the most part, survived; Poland and Milan. Poland took in many escaping Jewish families, and since they took their customs with them, they kept clean and did not spread anything. Milan, on the other hand, burned anyone who even began to show the slightest of symptoms. They also burned the infected individuals’ houses, with their families inside. This too decreased the population, but by a far less amount than the land around