The Bubonic Plague “The Black Death” By Nicolette Laird 1-27-2009
Basic Facts The Bubonic Plague is caused by the bacterium yersinia pestis It kills about 50% of infected patients in 4-7 days without treatment 1-27-2009
Infections Infection of the lymphatic system Usually resulting from a flea bite Yersinia pestis can resist white blood cells It can even reproduce inside the white blood cells, killing it 1-27-2009
Early Symptoms Buboes: swollen lymph nodes First symptom of plague Commonly found in armpits, groin, and neck area 1-27-2009
Other Early Symptoms Fever of 101-105 degrees Headache Chills Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea (may be bloody) Decreased appetite Tiny broken blood vessels Abdominal pain 1-27-2009
Other Symptoms Spots on skin that are red at first and then turn black Heavy breathing Continuous blood vomiting Blister at flea bite Aching limbs and pain This is caused by actual decay of skin while victim is still alive Death begins when person has spasms Swollen glands 1-27-2009
Three Types of Plague Bubonic Plague: bacteria invade lymphatic system Septicemic Plague: bacteria invade the bloodstream Pneumonic Plague: bacteria invade the respiratory system 1-27-2009
Septicemic Plague Bacterium enter bloodstream Almost always fatal Causes massive damage to blood and circulatory system Parts of body lose blood supply and turn black When treated, a 40% chance of death 1-27-2009
Septicemic Plague Symptoms Chills Fever Severe headache Rapid heart rate Shock Extreme exhaustion and fatigue Nausea Vomiting Delirium Bleeding into skin Bleeding organs DEATH 1-27-2009
Pneumonic Plague Caught by breathing disease from contaminated animals or humans Damages lungs Results in 100% death chance if not treated within the first 24 hours 1-27-2009
Pneumonic Plague Symptoms Fever Chills Headache Cough Rapid breathing Difficulty breathing Pneumonia Blood in Sputum (saliva mixed with mucus in respiratory system) Bright red sputum Foamy red sputum Rapid shock DEATH 1-27-2009
History First recorded in the Byzantine Empire in the 6th Century Called the “Plague of Justinian” after the emperor who survived the epidemic 1-27-2009
The Black Death Killed almost one third of the population in Europe Believed to have originated in the Gobi Desert of China The disease was carried by fleas and rats along trade routes 1-27-2009
Path of the Black Death 1346: Reached Crimea in 1347: Spread to Constantinople By June of 1348, the disease had spread from Italy to Paris, France June, 1349: London, England; Liege, Belgium 1350: Hamburg, Germany 1-27-2009
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More recent Outbreaks 1665-1666: Great Plague of London Last big outbreak in Europe Second-Sino-Japanese War Plague was used as a weapon 1924-1925: Los Angeles Last urban plague epidemic Outbreaks still occur in rural communities 1-27-2009
Treatments Many antibiotics Streptomycin: prevents protein synthesis Gentamycin: interrupts protein synthesis Tetracyclines: prevents protein synthesis 1-27-2009
Remember the nursery rhyme? Ring Around the Rosy Pocket Full of Posie Ashes! Ashes! We all Fall down 1-27-2009
It’s about the Black Death… “Ring around the rosy”: patients had rosy red rashes in the shape of a ring “Pocket full of Posie”: pockets and pouches were filled with sweet smelling herbs (posies) because the disease was thought to have been caused by bad smells “Ashes! Ashes!”: the cremation of the dead bodies The Great fire of London (1666) stopped the plague by killing all the rats “We all fall down”: everyone died 1-27-2009
Bibliography http://webs.wichita.edu/mschneegurt/biol103/lecture14/pestis_big.jpg http://www.humanillnesses.com/images/hdc_0001_0001_0_img0073.jpg http://www.usu.edu/markdamen/1320Hist&Civ/slides/01hist/justinian.jpg http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/fleas/bdeath/Black.html http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/p/plague/symptoms.htm#symptom_list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetracycline_antibiotics#Mechanism_of_action http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentamicin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptomycin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubonic_Plague http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/ http://plague.emedtv.com/plague/symptoms-of-plague.html http://www.william-shakespeare.info/bubonic-black-plague-modern-day.html http://www.mrdowling.com/703-plague.html http://farm1.static.flickr.com/26/99001476_a3abc44948.jpg 1-27-2009
The End Is near… 1-27-2009