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Bubonic Plague Dbq

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The Plague that struck Europe and Asia in the 14th century was probably the most devastating disease or natural disaster the world ever faced. The Bubonic Plague or Black Death killed an estimated 25 million people from 1347 to 1352 in Europe which accounted for one third of Europe’s population.??-1 It is believed to have started in Asia and then spread to Europe. The Bubonic Plague was not just limited to this period in time. It would reappear through the centuries including the Great Plague of London around 1656 in which 20% of London residents died from it.??-2 Although some of the latter breakouts of the plague were also catastrophic, this paper will primarily focus on the plague from the 1300s. More specifically, this paper will …show more content…

It is when the fleas jump to human hosts that the disease is spread. The strain of bacteria was not officially known until 1894 when it was identified as Yersinia Pestis. ??-2 Yersinia pestis attacks and disables human’s immune systems and then starts multiplying within the body. Yersinia pestis is a very irregular bacteria that acquired its genetic makeup from other bacteria and viruses. This has led modern day scientists to believe that Yersinia pestis has evolved and strengthened over time and is strong enough to survive in many different environments and hosts.??-12 Early symptoms included headaches, overall weakness, a white coating on the tongue followed by large swellings in the groin and armpit area that oozed blood and pus. This was followed by other symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, pain, hemorrhaging under the skin, excessive sneezing, and then the nervous system breaks down, death.??-5 The term “God bless you” originated from Pope Gregory VII when someone sneezes as plague victims are constantly sneezing and spreading germs.??-12 From the onset of the plague to death is only about five days. A popular nursery rhyme depicts the course of the …show more content…

(refers to the death dance as they succumb to the plague)??-12

There are actually three types of plague that contributed to the Black Death. They are:
• Bubonic Plague – swollen lymph nodes around the groin, armpit, and neck areas.
• Septicemic Plague – transmitted through the bloodstream by fleas or contact with other plague infected body fluids or solid body matter.
• Pneumonic Plague – transmitted through airborne droplets by coughing or sneezing.
Bubonic plague kills only half the people that get infected, but Septicemic and Pneumonic plague are more infectious and are always fatal. People usually refer to the plague as Black Death or Bubonic Plague. Black Death was coined because of the black swellings and eventual blackened skin from the hemorrhaging blood vessels. Bubonic Plague is usually the term that is spoken of, but it is Septicemic and Pneumonic Plagues that were responsible for the large amount of deaths. The plague continued to be a menace in later centuries. The Great Plague of London in the 17th century killed one fifth of the population. The plague still exists today but it is highly treatable with anti-biotics. Also, our 21st century has better sanitary conditions that would restrict its

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