Black Plague Research Paper

380 Words2 Pages
What is it?
The plague is an infectious disease that attacks the body’s organs. It is caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis (named after Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin) lives in fleas and causes the Black Plague. These infected fleas would then bite rats, humans, ground squirrels, and prairie dogs. A majority of the infected fleas contained a mutated gene that allowed the bacteria to pass unto rats more efficiently.
When did it begin?
The first outbreak of the plague dates back to 400 B.C. in Babylon. The second, and most known outbreak was in the 1300’s in Europe. A ship arrived along the coast of the Black Sea full of infested rats after the Mongol army used the plague as a form of warfare during the siege of the city of Caffa.

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