Bubonic Plague example essay topic

What is the Bubonic Plague? The Bubonic Plague is a disease that is caused by a germ called Yersinia pestis. Itis spread to humans by fleas from infected rodents. In the 1300's, fourth of the population of Europe was destroyed. The disease causes swelling of the lymph glands (up to the size of a hens egg). The Greek word for groin is bourbon, which is bubonic.

The number of reported human cases of this plague in the United States has increased since the 1960's because the environment isn't staying clean. How do you get this disease? When a rat is infected, the flea bites the rat then the flea gets infected. The disease fills the stomach of the flea making it so the flea can't digest any more blood. The flea then becomes so hungry that it bites the human.

Now the human is infected. The first symptoms are headaches, nausea, vomiting and aching joints. Some others are fever, chills, the most horrible: the skin turns black. In the 1300's the plague spread so quickly in cities for many reasons. There were no regular garbage pick-ups. They let their food become rotten and kept them in their homes for weeks.

Left over meals were thrown onto the ground for animals, also feeding rats and fleas. They had no running water, so bathing was every once in a while. Galen's theory was that the disease was spread by poisonous vapors coming from swamps which corrupted the air. Heat was also believed to be a cause of the disease.

People washed their feet and hands regularly but, not their bodies because this would open pores, another way for the disease to enter the body. Three Major Outbreaks The first plague was the Plague of Justinian. The plague followed trade routes to France and Italy. It killed 70,000 people. It killed 1,000 people weekly. Smaller outbreaks occurred up until 1340.

The second major outbreak was the Bubonic Plague. It was the most devastating. It occurred in Europe in 1346-50. The Bubonic Plague is also known as the Black Death. It began in Kaffa, a cathedral town on the Crimean Coast. By the end of 1348, the plague covered all of Italy and most of France.

By 1351, the Plague reached Russia. The third major outbreak was the Great Plague of London, in 1665 which killed 17,440 people out of the total population of 93,000. A fire burned most of the city and ended the outbreak. Human Cases There have been cases of Bubonic Plague throughout the United States.

Here are a few cases about hunters. In 1987 there was a hunter in Montana who was exposed to an infected antelope shot in Wheatland county. The hunter was treated with antibiotics and recovered. The second case was on October 31, 1992. A hunter became infected after skinning a bobcat (which was shot in south-central Montana). This hunter was treated with antibiotics as well as the others but died on November 6, 1992.

The third case happened during the week of November 30, 1992 near Virginia City, Montana. Hunters observed an ill bobcat (it couldn't walk right). The Veterinary pathologists concluded that it had died from pneumonia caused by the plague. The hunters were aware of the plague and were advised to contact their physician for proper monitoring. Prevention of the Plague 1.

People should not handle or skin dead animals with any open sores or with bare hands. (cuts, scratches, or hangnails). Only skin animals with adequate gloves. 2. People handling, dissecting, or skinning wild animals should was their hands with soap and water as soon as possible.

3. People handling a wild animals should check themselves for fleas, ticks, etc. 4. If any person who handles any dead animals should become ill report it to a physician... 5.

Keep house pets or free roaming pets free from fleas. 6. Keep yards clean and campsites free from trash, junk, and garbage. Store animal feed where rodents can't get to it.

7. Cats have acquired the plague as a result of mousing. Be suspicious of any ill household pets. 8. Avoid camping in areas where rodents are evident. Deaths In the 14th century, the Bubonic Plague killed over 25 million people, a quarter of the population of Europe.

The Great Plague of London killed more than 70,000 people. In 1894 the spread to Hong Kong and killed 100,000 but, it's still spreading over the parts of the world, it has resulted more than 10 million deaths..