Bio II: Analysis of Black Death, Bubonic Plague and Vaccines

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the Black Death, also known as Bubonic Plague, a devastating pandemic in human history. It begins with an introduction to the disease, its causative agent (Yersinia pestis bacterium), and the historical context of its impact on Eurasia during 1346-1353. The report details the symptoms of the plague, including the characteristic swollen lymph nodes (buboes), fever, and other flu-like symptoms. It explains the transmission of the disease, primarily through infected fleas carried by rodents. Furthermore, the report discusses the social issues that arose due to the plague, including the impact on society, superstitions, and the limited understanding of the disease during that time. The report also examines the development of medicines and treatments, highlighting the role of antibiotics in treating the plague. Finally, the report concludes with a summary of the key findings and the significance of the Black Death in the history of infectious diseases.

SHE Biology Vaccines

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
BLACK DEATH/BUBONIC PLAGUE..........................................................................................1
SYMPTOMS...................................................................................................................................1
INFLUENCE...................................................................................................................................1
HOW IT IS TRANSMITTED?........................................................................................................2
SOCIAL ISSUES.............................................................................................................................2
SUPERSTITIONS...........................................................................................................................2
DEVELOPMENT: TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINES..............................................................2
TREATMENTS...............................................................................................................................3
FINAL TREATMENT.....................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Black death was the most epidemic disease is the history of human. It was resulted in the
death of 75 to 200 million people. This was occurred in 1346-1353 in Eurasia. There were
various theories developed in identifying the cause of black death but after the final analysis it
was found out that the pathogens which are responsible for black death was Yersinia pestis
bacterium (Greg, 2016). This report contains the bacterial symptoms of black death and the ways
by which this disease got transmitted. This assignment also shows the treatment methods used to
cure the victims.
BLACK DEATH/BUBONIC PLAGUE
This disease was caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis, a bubonic plague which circulates
in the wild rodents. They live in high density and high in numbers. Such kind of places is also
called as plague focus or plague reservoir. Such kind of plague in human arises when the black
rats or rodents became infected. This is exposed after one to seven days. This is majorly spread
by some infected fleas which are from small animals (Bubonic Plague, 2017). This can also be
exposed from getting in contact with the fluid flowing from the deal plague or infected animals.
The bacteria will enter in the body by the bite of any infected flea bite. These bacteria will travel
through lymphatic vessels which will cause it to swell. The diagnosis has been made by finding
the bacteria running in blood, lymph nodes or sputum.
SYMPTOMS
The bubonic plague is very rarely spread through the contact of person to person. The
lymph nodes is getting affected by this plague the most. These nodes are another part of lymph
system. The bacteria will start showing its effects within 3 to 7 days (Charlotte, 2014). The
person will develop some symptoms of flu like headache, fever, weakness, chill tender lymph
glands and swollen. The dying tissue starts appearing black which will cause the bleeding of
tissues and in severe cases it may cause death.
INFLUENCE
The diagnosis of this particular plague is dependent on the identification of organisms in
the sample of blood tissues. There are various anti-biotic available for treating this. Some of
them are ciprofloxacin, streptomycin, gentamicin etc. Those people who are suffering from this
1

disease will further require additional treatment. This includes oxygen respiratory support and
various medications so that adequate blood level and pressure is maintained.
HOW IT IS TRANSMITTED?
This plague is hardly transmitted through human contact. The transmission occurs when
the infected rodents are fed by the flees and then they bite people. The flea bite is the main cause
of transmission. It can further spread through the contact with contaminated tissues or fluids (The
Black Death., 2017). Human can instantly become infected if they are in constant contact with
the infected tissues. The infectious droplets of plague bacteria is another reason for the
transmission.
SOCIAL ISSUES
The loss of people is having significant impact on all the prospects of society. The less
disturbing and quite environment are the cures of the plague used by the people at that time. At
the time when black death was spreading, then cities and villages were affected the most because
the population was reducing. The society was not able to control the disease. Then, they have
stopped the imports and exports from other cities. Those people who are affected were kept at
different places so that the disease will not spread. The preparation was very less because they
were afraid of treating the people who are suffering from bubonic plague.
SUPERSTITIONS
During those times, people were not having more knowledge about such kind of disease
and how to cure this. They have declared as the will of god. People thought that all this is the act
of god and by worshipping, it can be cured. So they travelled from town to town by ritually
flagging in public place showing that god is angry (Mohammed, 2013). They have killed those
people who are suffering from this plague, so that the disease can be prevented. People were
more superstitions at that time, so they have adopted all the ritual practices by which the spread
can be prevented and it can be cured.
DEVELOPMENT: TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINES
The black death is having significant impact on the development of medicines. It
certainly revels some short comings in the medical system of Europe. The physicians were
scrambling on the development of the medicines so that it can be prevented from spreading.
There is still no such vaccine is available by which the plague can be cured (Health Guide,
2

2017). But people can reduce the rodent habitat areas and they can use gloves so that the contact
can be avoided from the infected rodent. Prophylactic antibiotics can be used to an extent so that
the condition of the infected person can be improved.
TREATMENTS
The black death has wiped out the population of one third of Europe. Some treatments
used by people in 1328 to 1351 are; Aromatherapy, rotten treacle, religion, eating a spoon of
crushed emeralds etc. (The Black Death and early public health measures, 2017). These were the
few practices people used, but it is not the actual cure of bubonic plague, which is causing black
death.
FINAL TREATMENT
Those people who are suffering from bubonic plague required immediate treatment. If
they are not able to get the treatment after the first symptoms then it can lead up to the death of
the person. Antibiotics such as gentamicin, doxycycline, streptomycin are majorly used for
treatment (Melissa, 2017). The patients have to be isolated from caregivers or other patients.
People have to give antibiotics with preventive measures and without treatment 50% of the
people died.
CONCLUSION
From this report, it has been concluded that black death was the most dangerous disease
occurred in Eurasia. At that time Bubonic plague was not having any treatment so people
focused on religion as their healing practices. As the technology developed, some antibiotics are
produced which can reduce the death rate by 50%. It was also found out that the transmission of
the plague is not occurred by human contact.
3

REFERENCES
Online
Bubonic Plague., 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.infoplease.com/science/health-and-body/epidemics-past-bubonic-plague>.
[Accessed on 3rd August].
Charlotte, H., 2014. Where the Black Death happened: 9 places connected to the plague.
[Online]. Available through: <http://www.historyextra.com/feature/black-death-where-
history-happened>. [Accessed on 3rd August].
Greg, B., 2016. Bubonic plague reported in Michigan. [Online]. Available through:
<http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/14/health/michigan-plague/index.html>. [Accessed on
3rd August].
Health Guide, 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/plague/overview.html>. [Accessed on 2nd
August 2017].
Melissa, C., 2017. Plague (Black Death). [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.medicinenet.com/plague_facts/page5.htm>. [Accessed on 2nd August 2017].
Mohammed, S., 2013. 10 Crazy Cures for the Black Death. [Online]. Available through:
<http://listverse.com/2013/01/21/10-crazy-cures-for-the-black-death/>. [Accessed on 2nd
August 2017].
The Black Death and early public health measures, 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/themes/publichealth/blackdeath>.
[Accessed on 2nd August 2017].
The Black Death., 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/z7r7hyc/revision>. [Accessed on 3rd August].
4