The Bubonic plague, also known as the black death, is a highly infectious bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.emedtv: Bubonic Plague Causes It is flea-borne and enters through the skin after which it invades the lymphatic system.The fleas are often found on rodents but then seek other hosts when the rodents die.rarediseases: Bubonic Plague Bubonic plague kills around 50 percent of infected victims within 3-7 days. The plague swept throughout Europe in the 14th century, killing one third of the population.emedicine: plague

The most common symptoms of the plague are buboes or swollen lymph glands which are usually found in the armpits, neck or groin.medterms: [1] There are two other forms of the plague, pneumonic and septicemic,which occur when a patient with the bubonic plague developed pneumonia or blood poisoning.wrongdiagnosis: Types of Plague

Other symptoms include spots on the skin that are red at first and then turn black, heavy breathing, continuous blood vomiting, aching limbs and terrible pain.mayoclinic: Plague Symptoms The pain is usually caused by the actual decaying, or decomposing of the skin while the infected person is still alive.

1. Average: 13 US human cases annually
2. Most get it from rodent fleas
3. Carriers: Squirrels, prairie dogs
4. 1300s: Kills 33% in Europe
5. 1665-1666: Kills 75,000+ in London
6. 1800s: Kills 12 million in China
7. 1901-1904: Kills 122 in San Francisco area
8. 2003 worldwide cases: 2,118
9. Almost 99% were in Africa

Disclaimer: The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you have a Plague, please consult your doctor.

• Health: Plague News

• ScienceDaily: Vaccine To Protect Against Black Plague Bioterror Attack Being Developed (July 31, 2008)

• The New York Times: Clues to Black Plague's Fury in 650-Year-Old Skeletons (January 29, 2008)

• Reuters.com: Plague a Growing but Overlooked Threat - Study (January 15, 2008)

• New Scientist: Warming up for a plague outbreak (2006)

• New Scientist: Bubonic plague strikes Los Angeles woman (2006)

• TimesOnline (London): Lost documents shed light on Black Death (2007)

• New Zealand Herald: US monkey dies from flea-borne bubonic plague (2007)

• cbs4denver.com: Stray Cat Dies Of The Plague In Denver (2007)

• Google News Search: Bubonic Plague

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Plague