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"Black Death"
Plague
- Also called the Great Mortality of the
14th century -
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Summary: Pandemics of
flea-transmitted Bubonic plague, or "Black Death",
have had an important impact on human history.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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What is The
Plague?
The Plague (Bubonic
Plague) refers to a pandemic disease caused by a
bacterium that is transmitted to humans from
rodents by the bite of a flea. The rat flea, (Xenopsylla
cheopis) is the main vector of this
pathogen.
The "Black Death"
plague of central Asia and Europe between 1348 and
1352 is believed to have been caused by the
flea-transmitted bacterium called Yersinia
pestis. In
addition to Black Death, this Plague has been
called "Black Plague", "Bubonic Plague" and "The
Great Mortality". There have been at least three Plague
pandemics throughout history.
The Great
Mortality by John Kelly (right) traces the
Plague pandemic of the 14th century from its
origins in central Asia through southern Europe
into Great Britain then into northern Europe. Plague:
The Mysterious Past and Terrifying Future of the
World's Most Dangerous Disease by
Wendy Orent extends the discussion to how the
Plague bacillus might impact us today and in the
future.
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The Great Mortality is
a terrifically good account of the 14th century Plague
pandemic. It is well written by a historian/science
writer that has taken great care in getting the facts
right. Then, Plague: The Mysterious Past and
Terrifying Future of the World's Most Dangerous
Disease takes up the question "what does the
presence of Yersinia pestis in the modern
world mean for all of us today?" Did you know, for
example, that both Plague, and the fleas that transmit
it, are commonly associated with rodents in the
western US even today?
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