Question

Conduct online research and write a paragraph on how the zoonotic disease called bubonic plague was responsible for the Black Death in Europe. Be sure to include answers to the following questions:

-Which animal species carried the plague bacteria?
-Which vector transmitted the plague to humans?
-Did specific environmental factors bring humans into contact with the plague’s animal carriers and vectors?
-What measures were eventually developed to help control the spread of the plague?
-How significant was the impact of the Black Death?

Answer 1

The bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, was responsible for the Black Death that ravaged Europe in the 14th century. The disease was primarily carried by rodents, particularly black rats, which were infested with fleas that transmitted the bacterium to humans through their bites. Human contact with the rodents and their fleas was made more likely due to overcrowding and unsanitary living conditions in cities during this time. The disease was highly contagious and deadly, with mortality rates reaching up to 50-60% in some areas. In an effort to control the spread of the disease, measures such as quarantine and burning of infected materials were implemented. The Black Death had a significant impact on European society, leading to a decline in population, economic disruption, and changes in religious and cultural practices. It is estimated that the disease wiped out between 30-60% of the European population.