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The Bubonic Plague Epidemic

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The Black Death was one of the worst epidemics in history. Early in 1347 A.D., a huge plague brushed over Europe, devastating cities causing massive madness and death (J.P. Somerville, "The Black Death"). One third of the population of Europe died, resulting in around thirty five million deaths (J.P. Somerville, "The Black Death"). However, the Plague did not only affect Europe; it also affected other countries to the East such as Italy and China ("The Black Death ). The Black Death conveyed an immense change in manners, society, and broad lifestyle of Europe, changing all of history. During the late 1340's, the plague was introduced to the European lands (J.P. Somerville, "The Black Death"). In November 1347, a ship returning from the Black Sea stopped near Naples during its route home (J.P. Somerville, "The Black Death"). This stop was what transported the deadly disease or "grand mortality" to Europe (J.P. Somerville, "The Black Death"). The outbreak of the disease was known as the Black Death, or the Bubonic Plague, because of the murky patches on the skin caused by constant and horrific bleeding (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The Bubonic plague was carried by black rats, and broadened to humans by the fleas that infested them (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Most people believed that sick rats were the origin of the disease, and they were indeed carriers. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The outbreak started from fleas, that would bite rats that were commonly found in Europe and the rats then bit humans, therefore causing an infection of the plague in a human (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Humans that had been infected had the ability to spread the disease extremely rapidly (Marks, Geoffrey J., The Medieval Plague). The disease was air-borne, meaning that anyone who was infected can spread the infection to another human by just air contact (J.P. Somerville, "The Black De

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