Bubonicplague

DISEASE: HISTORY OF DEATH

BUBONIC PLAGUE

Beau Benhardt

Teacher page

The place, Europe, the time 1347, a ship traveling from the Black Sea port of Kaffa docks in Sicily. Aboard this ship was death, though the people did not know it. Over the next 4 years 25 million people or 1/3 of the population of Europe died of this dreaded affliction.

The disease was caused by a bacteria known as the Yersinia Pestis.

It was transmitted by an insect known as the rat flea.

METHOD OF TRANSMISSION

• FLEA DRINKS BLOOD OF A RAT WHO CARRIES THE DISEASE

• BACTERIA DEVELOPS WITHIN AND CLOGS THE FLEA’S GUT

• FLEA LEAVES RAT HOST, BITES HUMAN, AND REGURGITATES BLOOD INTO OPEN WOUND

• HUMAN IS INFECTED

SYMPTOMS OF THE PLAGUE

Painful swellings in armpits, neck, and groin called buboes (boo-bows).

High fever

Blood vessels burst under skin turning it black.

Untreated mortality rate- 75%

BLACK DEATH: A TWO-HEADED HYDRA

The plague outbreak of 1347 was one of the first signs of an organism’s ability to mutate to another form. A pneumonic version of the plague developed that killed even more quickly and spread more readily.

What mode of transmission would pneumonic plague use to infect a host?

ANSWER

Airborne transmission. The term pneumatic refers to the pneumothorax or chest cavity of the human body. The pneumatic plague was inhaled by the victim, infected the lungs, and killed them due to respiratory failure sometimes within 24 hours !

TREATMENT FOR THE PLAGUE (14TH CENTURY)

In the 14th century, knowledge of disease was non-existent. They believed it was caused by bad vapors or blood imbalances. The treatment used to ‘cure’ plague would seem bizarre by modern standards.

Bathing in human urine. Placing dead animals in the home.

Use of leeches or bleeding the individual.

TREATMENT FOR PLAGUE TODAY

Since the plague is caused by a bacteria, we have a very effective means of treating outbreaks.

What type of medication is used to treat most bacterial infections ?

ANSWER: Penicillin or Antibiotics

HISTORY CHANGED

The outbreak of plague and subsequent death of 1/3 of the population of Europe had very profound social and historical consequences.

In your journal, list some of the possible historical changes that occurred as a result of the plague.

HISTORY CHANGED POSSIBLE ANSWERS

Government halted Loss of labor force

Commerce ceased Loss of knowledge

Trade was disrupted

Religious beliefs altered

Food production slowed

COULD IT HAPPEN AGAIN ?

The conditions present in the 14th century provided an ideal situation for the development of this devastating epidemic.

In your journal, list what environmental, social, scientific, and sanitary changes have been made in our present society that would limit the possibility of a modern outbreak of the plague ?

ANSWER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Control of rat population

• Use of insecticides• Sanitary disposal of

garbage and waste• Improved personal

hygiene

• Use of antibiotics• Improvements in the

medical profession• Increased knowledge

of communicable disease

• Quarantine procedures on imports of food and animals

THE

END

TEACHERS PAGE:

Objective- To make the students aware of the devastating diseases of the past and their possible reoccurrence in the future.

Activity- The students should answer the questions presented within the lesson in their journals.

Process- Click the mouse after each slide is completed (when the back arrow appears) to move to the next. Certain slides require special procedures. 1) The slide entitled Black Death 2 Headed Hydra, let the students have 2 minutes to complete their answer before proceeding. 2) The slide entitled Treatment for Plague, give them 20 seconds to write their answers. 3) The slide entitled History Changed, give 5 minutes to answer. 4) The slide titled Could it Happen Again, give 5 minutes.