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THE BLACK DEATH
The Black Death was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1347 and 1351. It is widely thought to have been caused by a bacterium named Yersinia pestis, a bacteria that is common in the stomach of certain fleas
The fleas live on small rodents, especially black rats. Ordinarily, a balance exists between the bacillus, fleas, and rats, which did not cause harm to other creatures. Some environmental conditions can cause the bacillus to multiply. The digestive tract of the flea can become blocked, which causes it to regurgitate the bacillus into the blood stream of its host. When that happens, the rats become infected, and plague can break out.
The Black Death can take several forms. The most common is bubonic, which is spread by flea bites. Bubonic plague kills around 50% of those infected. It can also take a pneumonic or septicemic form, spread through the respiratory system. In those forms, the plague will kill nearly 100% of the time.
''Black Death'' Wikipedia May 6, 2009 '' Black Death'' Abc Clio May 7, 2009
