In the 14th Century alone it is estimated to have killed 200 million people.
Although bubonic plague is no longer a major health problem in Europe, it is still prevalent in some parts of the world.
About 3,000 cases are reported annually to the World Health Organisation.
18 comments:
Wow...I had NO IDEA that the bubonic plague was still around! I looked on wikipedia and apparantly there was actually a case this year in a 58-year-old woman!
What do you guys think of it being used as a biological weapon? During the Mongol time I suppose it was readily effective but could it really do much damage in our modern day world with advanced medicine?
I think that with today's technology, the plague can't cause much damage. In today's world we have some very intelligent people who are capable of coming with cures for many different diseases.
Well thats not true, what if the plague broke out in Africa? There aren't many strong medical devices there to fight it off, and if a epidemic broke out it will go unnoticed until it has killed thousands/entire cities. Even then it probably would be to late, the UN probably would not be able to contain it (seeing how its impossible to control the movement of fleas). The plague would then more then likely spread throughout Africa and enter India (remember the plague is attracted to moist climates) And because the population of India is so big and densely packed it will spread 100 times as fast, after that to China, Russia, etc. Hitting areas of high population and density, and because so many people would be infected at one time it would be near impossible to isolate/quarantine it. Think about if Europe's population was around 70-100 million and very spread out during the Black Plague and it even then it spread VERY FAST, imagine it coming into a area where the popultaion is in the billions ( India, and China) and very densely packed imagine the devastation!
What if? What if? We could play What If games all day long. No use in assuming, really. I’m not sure of the entire history of the plague, but I don’t recall it ever stepping foot in Africa, so at the moment, I’m eliminating Africa as a possible host for the plague. With all the other diseases festering in Africa, how do we know if these diseases give the Africans protection (I believe we’re all familiar with how the first vaccine was created)? Anyways, I’m off topic.
So, back to what I was trying to answer. Could the plague be used as a biological weapon? Let’s just say that the plague was brought to America. I’m almost positive it would be near annihilation for us. Yes, we have heard of the plague, but have we ever dealt with it? Think of it as being slapped. Yes, I’m sure we’ve all seen someone slapped, but then though “Haha, that was funny. It’ll never happen to me though” And then it does. The sheer unexpectedness of it could, in fact, take us down, regardless of the fact that we have substantial medical equipment to combat it.
Think of how easily the plague could spread. Rats are everywhere, especially in poorer cities. The poor are infected. Think of how many times you’ve seen a homeless person on the street. Regardless of the gap between social class, the rich and the poor DO have contact. All that homeless person would have to do is breath on you, and you’re doomed.
What if? What if? J
Well, I get what you mean Kevin. The plague is still going around, and we can't do anything to completely get rid of it from the world.
Think about it, if the plague did break out in Africa or India, I'm pretty sure America would come up with something to get rid of it right?
I mean Africa already has famous Americans visiting it and stuff. So those Americans will help stop the spread of the plague, if it occurred.
Ofcourse, China and India has billions of people living. But they're both smart enough to come up with something for cure.
What I'm trying to say is in the past, people didn't have the smarts to figure out why and how the plague is happening. They just blamed it all on God, by thinking that God was punishing them for something. After years, we now know that it was caused by fleas to rats to humans. Before, the plague led to death. Now, even if you did get the plague it wouldn't cause you your life.
Mr. Houston what do you think about the whole thing with the plague?
Actually Danica the bubonic plague did spread to Africa according to Wikipedia "By autumn 1347, the plague reached Alexandria in Egypt, probably through the port's trade with Constantinople and ports on the Black Sea. During 1348, the disease traveled eastward to Gaza." And the whole what if thing, this entire discussion is a what if argument about whether or not the plague will strike again or be used as a biological weapon. The plague has not struck in over 600 years, and here we are discussing what if scenarios if it actually struck in our modern day. Well i got a answer to that, personally in First-World countries the devastation would be small because experienced doctors would see the symptoms easily. But in Second-Third World countries the devastation would be much larger, killing off entire cities/towns because of the lack of medial knowledge.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Death#Middle_Eastern_outbreak)
Everyone remember the article we read, it talked about how there were antibiotics that could treat patients. That means that a massive spread of the disease is unlikely.
Using the bubonic plague as a biological weapon is also unprobable. Most terrorists don't use biological weapons because they don't usually spread, getting the biological agents are incredibly difficult, the transportation to the attack site is hard and the limited results that the attacks produce. In 96% of biological attacks since 1975, 3 people or less have been killed. Also as mentioned before, there are antibiotics against the plaque.
Anthrax, a component of the bubonic plague could in theory be deployed, however it is also unlikely.
An outbreak in Africa? As unlikely as it may seem, an outbreak could occur. But,I don't actually think that the plaque could spread too far because the antibiotics, the better surveillance system in place by the WHO and the fact that the plague isn't as hard hitting as it used to be. Even with the 3,000 cases a year of it, it hasn't spread to a degree of worry.
I wouldn't worry too much about a massive spread of the bubonic plague... but then again you never know.
It is unwise to use Wikipedia as a source. But yes, this is an What If argument, isn't it?
And I'm sure we'd all like to think that if the bubonic plague came to America, we'd be able to combat it. Theoretically, we should be able to, but as I said, a surprise attack can take anyone out. Ask the military.
But what do we really know? Can anyone here explain why Staph, which has been living harmlessly in the noses of 60% of the population is suddenly killing people? Most cases of Staph are mild. Why is this happening? Because the staph mutated. It is possible for the bubonic plague to do the same.
However, I do agree mainly with Megan.
Hm.. I agree with Megan too.
I gotta agree with Danica on a lot of that though. But anyways, Wikipedia is not always the most reliable source. It might be an online encyclopedia, but it is submitted by anyone, you know?
Back on topic now. The plague was a major threat at that time with the limited medical treatment, but even now in America it would come as shock to people. I'm rather certain people would come up with some kind of treatment or cure, but not without the loss of several human lives first.
America is not exactly the most concerned country about these kinds of things because we've become accustomed to a very relaxed life where there's a shot for just about everything.
I can see where your going Danica, sense the bubonic plague is a bacteria fighting it with antibodies will only increase its deadliness. If a outbreak did occur almost immediately antibodies would be administrated to decrease its spread. But the disease would only mutate and if it struck again it would only become more deadly and as we use more and more antibodies it will become immune to all of them. And then if it continues to return, we would have to use that one antibody that can kill all bacteria ( I don't know the exact name), in which the plague would become immune to it. And then were pretty much done for because we can't defense ourselves from another outbreak because its immune to all antibodies that work on it. name)
But that's only the most pessimistic way to look at it. We don't know the science behind the plague so I don't think we can properly judge the biology of the bacteria.
Of course, if you're talking about that then you should also consider the fact that there are three types of plague along with the fact that it's believed to be a combination of bubonic plague and anthrax. Then there's the how it's spread. If the rats or fleas could somehow be killed, then we would be better protected, but there's the airborne form of the plague too...
Basically, the list goes on. We can't say too much about treating it and whatnot because we don't understand it. Scientists now don't even seem to have a firm grasp on what the plague is, and they won't until the plague strikes again.
I think that the bubonic plague can be used in biological warfare or can devastate our society if it hits as it did in Europe and Asia in the 13th century. The Bubonic Plague has diverged into many strands, such as pneumonic and septocemic, and some have become resistant to modern medicine. Because of this, the strand would be difficult to treat and could affect many people while doctors try and find a cure (as Kevin said, there is no way to regulate fleas). However, on the flip side, the plague was last used in warfare during the siege of Kaffa in 1345 and thus, it does not seem likely that the plague will be used as a means of biological warefare today.
Once again you can only use the information given to you by others. You only know about cases that are posted on Wikipedia, which may I remind you may be edited by anyone. I often suspect Mr. Houston personally modifies the articles to see if we actually notice. Unfortunately, not one of us can truely know how we could stop such a plague, for none of us has had it. Many infectants today have an increased immunity to antibiotics, what's to say that the plague is any different. The plague is a living organism, capable of spontanious mutation like all living cells, and bacteria multiply rapidly, especially one that kills as fast as the plague. It could become a cold with Ebola death rates. Biologically speaking though, that kind of infectant is a terrible survivor, because it kills its host faster than it can spread, and therefore will wipe itself out. But that also means many people will go with it.
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