08/01/2024
A good reason why to keep fleas under control:
the Black Death was bubonic plague.
Here's how they compare:
Feature
Black Death
Bubonic Plague
Timeframe
1346-1353
Present day, with outbreaks throughout history
Nickname
The Black Death
N/A
Cause
Yersinia pestis bacterium
Yersinia pestis bacterium
Transmission
Primarily through infected fleas
Primarily through infected fleas, but can also be transmitted through contact with contaminated materials or respiratory droplets
Symptoms
Fever, chills, headache, weakness, swollen lymph nodes (buboes), gangrene
Fever, chills, headache, weakness, painful swollen lymph nodes (buboes) in the groin, armpit, or neck
Mortality rate
30-50% of Europe's population
40-60% untreated, 1-15% treated
Treatment
None
Antibiotics, including streptomycin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin