The Black Death Flashcards
what caused the black death
yersinia pestis carried by insect vectors on reservoir rodents
different forms of black death
bubonic
septicemic
pneumonic
bubonic plague
-incubation
-symptoms
-mortality(untreated)
incubation: 2-6 days
symptoms: fever, malaise, headache, bubo
mortality: 50-60%
septicemic plague
-cause
-symptoms
-mortality(untreated)
cause: blood infection
symptoms: buboes, necrosis of extremities
mortality: 100%
pneumonic plague
incubation
mode of infection
symptoms
mortality
incubation: 1-6 days
transmission: Y. pestis inhaled(most common) or septicemic form spreads
symptoms: respiratory distress(coughing up blood)
mortality: 90%
religious impact of black plague
-catholic church lost prestige
-christians blamed jews for the plague
-lead to flagellant movement in Germany
-paved way for protestant reformation
social and economic impact if black plague
-declined trade and population
-farmlands were abandoned causing feudal system to collapse
-peasants revolted leading to awareness of rights of individuals
how is yersinia pestis transmitted
-flea or animal bites
-direct contact
-aerosol infection in pneumonic plague
who discovered the causative agent of the plague and the role of rodents and fleas
Alexandre Yersin
when and how how did plague arrive to US
in 1900 through trade ships coming from hong kong
current state of plague in US? in the world?
rodent control limits disease
in US and most of the world it is a very small issue
-madagascar still has around 2000-3000 cases a year with around 500 deaths
role of plague control in protecting black-footed ferrets
vaccinating prairie dogs against the plague and flea control in prairie dog colonies to protect them from plague
which form of plague is most common
bubonic plague
which form of plague has potential as biological weapon
pneumonic plague
1st plague pandemic
-common name
-time
-geographic origin
-mortality/deaths
name: Justinian plague
time: 541 AD to 740 AD
origin: central asia
mortality: 40%, 10,000 died daily in constantinople
what was the first “historically recorded” pandemic
Justinian plague (the first plague pandemic)
2nd plague pandemic
common name
time(and when was it most deadly)
the black death
started in 1347 and lasted 3 centuries, most deadly was first 5 years
what path did the black death spread along to reach kaffa? why?
followed along silk road, reached kaffa from seige of mongol soldiers
how did the great fire of London in 1666 impact the plague
it stopped it, likely bc the fire drove disease carrying rodents out of the city
what change in rat population in the 1700s lead to end of the plague
urban black rat was driven out by gray rat which did not like humans and generally avoided them
3rd plague pandemic
time
origin
spread
death
time: 1855-1960
origin: yunnan china
spread: spread in china due to social unrest and crowding, spread worldwide through ocean trading
death: killed 12 million in India and China
