The plague is so prevalent in European history textbooks because, more than any other disease, it has had a heavy hand in shaping European society. Despite its name, the disease responsible for the Black Death is currently treatable with easily attainable antibiotics and death only occurs when treatment is delayed. Closer to home, the bacterium that causes plague, Yersinia pestis, is endemic to certain areas of the southwestern United States and causes a few isolated cases every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports between 1,000 and 2,000 cases yearly, the majority of which occur in agricultural areas of Africa. Despite its ties to the middle ages, the plague is alive and well in the 21 st century. įor most people, the plague lives in the pages of medieval history books under the ominous name “Black Death,” which refers to the plague’s most famous outbreak. His symptoms and history: a fever and contact with a dead marmot. In July 2014, Chinese officials shut down entire sections of the city of Yumen after a 38-year-old farmer fell ill. The plague is one such disease and its most famous pandemic – the Black Death – has changed the history, culture, and science of Western society. Many diseases have affected the outcomes of battles or the political leanings of a country, but few have had consequences on society that continue to be felt in the present age.
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