The Black Death!

When we take a look back in history we find many instances of where people are attacked by this deadly bacterium we call the bubonic plague (Yersina pestis). This epidemic in history begins with small rodents. Rodents such as mice, rats, and squirrels are usually found carrying the infection. This infection originates from fleas that have bitten rodents and consumed contaminated blood. This infection becomes harmful to humans when these rodents enter our homes carrying these fleas. After one person becomes infected the plague can spread like a wildfire from one person to another through coughing and sneezing. This disease causes red spots to form on the skin that turn black where we get the name, The Black Death. Some of the other symptoms associated with the bubonic plague are; swollen lymph nodes, high fever, chills, and headaches.

There are many ways to try and prevent this disease from infesting our country. Some of these prevention techniques include controlling our rat population, keeping an eye on the plague cases in rats and humans in the area, using pesticides to reduce the amount of fleas, and treating and controlling the fleas on our pets. In treating this disease we use antibiotics such as streptomycin and tetracycline to try and control these symptoms. There are also vaccines available in order to prevent this disease for those who are helping to try to cure those who already have the disease. I decided to choose this disease/bacterial infection because it was one of the first terms that caught my attention when I googled the different species of bacteria. The bubonic plague was interesting because it is a life threatening disease and an epidemic that has covered most of the world at least one point in time.

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