Cause of the Black Death plague identified

The plague has been active, and still is in areas of the USA. I don't see how this is news. It's like saying, "we found what causes diabetes!" This isn't news.

I was thinking much the same until I read the article. They identified that there were two totally new strains of the bug, and they traced its route. I was going to write something snotty, but that info made it worthwhile as news.

yeah.....so sad there's no cure by then...... antibiotics were not yet introduced.

I thought it was mainly transmited via rodents......but fleas could also transmit it

I thought it was mainly transmited via rodents......but fleas could also transmit it well, works this way, the flea sucks blood from the rodent, that dies from the plague. The flea is hungry and sucks on somebody else transmitting the plague. That can be any mammal, including humans.

I thought it was mainly transmited via rodents......but fleas could also transmit it It was transmitted from the bites of fleas, carried by rodents. Rats are susceptible to plague, but less so than humans. We call this type of infection a zoonotic disease. As the rats living in close contact with humans begins to die, their parasites (fleas) spread to new hosts (humans). _______________________________________________ This is news because the epidemiological spread of the plagues isn't consistent with a pandemic bacterial pathogen. Its more consistent with viral hemorrhagic fevers. Which is wh... [More]

Yersinia pestis is also found among rodents in western America, generally among ground squirrels and ferrets.

Very nice story Still Water.

Well duh.... Of course it was Yersina Pestis, there was no way it could have been anything else. Some of the theories thrown around were silly. Ebola? i mean come on. I cant belive people insist of spending money to "confrim" what its common knowledge.

This is pretty interesting, a good read. Thanks for posting!