The Bubonic Plague by Sameer Parkar

Duration of the Bubonic Plague

sparkar4 — 2024-10-22 14:28:27 UTC

The bubonic plague, otherwise known as the black death, was a plague pandemic that occurred in Europe from 1346 to 1353.

sparkar4 — 2024-10-22 14:30:18 UTC

What is the Bubonic Plauge

sparkar4 — 2024-10-22 14:32:34 UTC

Plague is an infectious disease caused by a specific type of bacterium called Yersinia pestis. Y. pestis can affect humans and animals and is spread mainly by fleas. Bubonic plague is one type of plague. It gets its name from the swollen lymph nodes (buboes) caused by the disease. The nodes in the armpit, groin and neck can become as large as eggs and can ooze pus.

Symptoms of the Bubonic Plague

sparkar4 — 2024-10-22 14:33:49 UTC

Bubonic plague symptoms include:

Sudden high fever and chills.
Pains in the areas of the abdomen, arms and legs.
Headaches.
Large and swollen lumps in the lymph nodes (buboes) that develop and leak pus.

Plague Doctors

sparkar4 — 2024-10-22 14:34:21 UTC

Who were the Plague Doctors?

sparkar4 — 2024-10-22 14:37:11 UTC

A plague doctor was a physician who treated victims of bubonic plague during epidemics mainly in the 16th and 17th-century Europe. These physicians were hired by cities to treat infected patients regardless of income, especially the poor, who could not afford to pay.

Why did the Plague Doctors wear a Mask?

sparkar4 — 2024-10-22 14:38:32 UTC

It was actually worn by doctors and physicians as a medical uniform, under the supposition it would have protected them from disease when they visited people infected. The theory was that it would isolate the physician and prevent direct contact with the bodies of plague victims.

sparkar4 — 2024-10-22 14:39:17 UTC

Does the Bubonic Plague Still Exist?

sparkar4 — 2024-10-22 14:40:16 UTC

There have been other episodes of bubonic plague in world history apart from the Black Death years (1346-1353). Bubonic plague still occurs throughout the world and in the U.S., with cases in Africa, Asia, South America and the western areas of North America. About seven cases of plague happen in the U.S. every year on average. Half of the U.S. cases involve people aged 12 to 45 years.

In the U.S., most plague cases in people happen in two areas: Northern New Mexico, northern Arizona and southern Colorado, and another area involving California, southern Oregon and western Nevada.