The Bubonic Plague

What was the Bubonic Plague?

• plague caused by a bacterium (Yersinia pestis) and characterized especially by the formation of buboes

• The plague hit Europe the hardest.

• Killing 2 out of 3

Where did it come from??

• The black death originated from The Oriental Rat Flea: Xenopsylla cheopis

Fleas are blood sucking parasites. They have the potential of spreading dangerous diseases to humans and other animals.

How was it transmitted?

Spread to Europe by the late 1340’s

How do you think the Plague was spread looking at this map?

The Plague (3 kinds)• The Black Death came in three

forms, the bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic. Each different form of plague killed people in a vicious way. All forms were

caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis.

• pneumonic plague :• The pneumonic plague infected the lungs.

Symptoms included slimy sputum tinted with blood. Sputum is saliva mixed with mucus exerted from the respiratory system. As the disease progressed, the sputum became free flowing and bright red. Symptoms took 1-7 days to appear.

     

The Plague• The septicemic

plague was the most rare form of all. The mortality was close to 100% (even today there is no treatment). Symptoms were a high fever and skin turning deep shades of purple

SYMPTOMS OF THE PLAGUE

Painful swellings in armpits, neck, and groin called buboes (boo-bows).

High fever

Blood vessels burst under skin turning it black.

What were some of the remedies for the black death?

• Doctor Schnabel von Rom" (English: "Doctor Beak of Rome") engraving by Paul Fürst (after J Columbina). The beak is a primitive gas mask, stuffed with substances (such as spices and herbs)

thought to ward off the plague.

• Medieval and later-era plague suit, re-creation. Outfits of this type, worn by medieval physicians and made of cloth or leather, were uniquely associated with the plague in Europe. In addition to serving as a probable physical barrier to the plague pathogen, the suits had symbolic significance. The ability of birds to travel between earth and sky may have represented mediation between the earth and heaven. The costume's bird-like beak contained spices and vinegar-soaked cloth to mask the stench of death and decay and make

the physicians' work less unbearable

                             

     

How it affected Europe

• Europe's population dwindled and the church lost much of it’s power.

• The church said that God was punishing them and prayer, meditation could stop the deadly disease.

• Many of the Medicine men became sick themselves, and spread the disease more.

• The pope was more concerned with power than the disease itself.

How it affected Europe cont..

• Some people began writing depressing literature.

• Artwork of this time period was depressing.

How it affected Europe cont..• The common belief or explanation

of this song is about the plague.

: : : The "ring" was a type of skin infection which surrounded a "rosey" or roseola.: : : "Posies" are flowers which infected people carried hidden in pockets to mask the odor of the oozing sores.: : : "Ashes, Ashes" was the result of burning the bodies after they died of the plague.: : : "We all fall down" as a reference to what happens when you finally die of the disease.

Has there been cases of Bubonic today?!?

• Globally, the World Health Organization reports 1,000 to 3,000 human cases of plague every year.

• On 2005-09-15, ABC News reported[3] that three mice infected with the bacteria responsible for bubonic plague apparently disappeared from a laboratory. The mice were unaccounted-for at the Public Health Research Institute University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and conducts bioterrorism research for the United States federal government.

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     Worldwide distribution of plague infected animals 1998World distribution of plague, 1998, from CDC File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Contemporary cases

Prevention of the plague

• There is NO VACCINE• Avoid contact with sick or dead

animals. If you hunt, wear gloves when handling dead animals.

• Rodent-proof your home. Remove potential nesting areas, such as piles of brush, rock, firewood and junk. Don't leave any pet food or other animal food about.

• Prevent your pets from contracting fleas. Use flea-control products and don't allow pets to wander unsupervised. Ask your veterinarian for recommended flea-control brands and guidelines.

• Take precautions when outdoors. Closely supervise your children and pets when spending time outside in areas with large rodent populations. Use insect repellent containing DEET on your skin and clothing.

Today’s treatments• As soon as your doctor suspects

that you have plague, you'll need to be admitted to an isolation room in a hospital. There, you'll receive powerful antibiotics directly into your veins or your muscles for at least 10 days.

• If you have serious complications such as bleeding abnormalities, organ failure and respiratory distress, then respiratory support, intravenous fluids and oxygen may be necessary. Your doctor is required by law to report documented plague infection to local health officials.

• Even if you don't have signs or symptoms, you'll need treatment with preventive, oral antibiotics for seven days following direct exposure to a person with pneumonic plague.