The "Worst Plague in Human History," the Black Death Thought to Have Disappeared... Has Also Emerged in China

Plague Patient Reported in China's Neimenggu
Three Suspected Cases Also Added in Mongolia
Fearsome Infectious Disease That Swept 14th Century Europe

The Black Death (plague), known as the "worst epidemic in human history," which claimed at least tens of millions of lives in Europe during the 14th century (1346?1353), has recently reoccurred in China. The Black Death is characterized by symptoms such as necrosis caused by vascular coagulation, which leads to the skin turning black.

The Black Death is characterized by symptoms such as necrosis caused by intravascular coagulation, which results in the skin turning black.
[Photo source=Wikipedia]

According to Xinhua News Agency on the 16th, the first confirmed case of the Black Death in China was reported on the 7th, and on the 12th, two additional family members living together were diagnosed with the plague. The additional confirmed cases are known to be the husband and daughter of the initial patient. Chinese health authorities stated that close contacts were quarantined and controlled, and no abnormal situations have occurred.

There have also been recent cases of the Black Death in Mongolia. The Mongolian Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on the 14th that three suspected plague cases were added in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar. They are currently conducting further tests on the suspected cases. The confirmed patients are reported to have eaten meat from wild rodents called marmots. Although marmot hunting is strictly prohibited in Mongolia, many Mongolians are known to consume marmots through illegal hunting every year.

The Black Death, which disappeared as awareness of personal hygiene increased

Bronze plaque commemorating the Black Death in Weymouth, England. It is known that 30-50% of the population perished at the time. Although it was a terrible catastrophe, it also brought about the liberation of serfs bound to the existing manors and improvements in welfare.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

The Black Death is an epidemic that started in Central Asia and reached the Crimean Peninsula around 1343. Fleas parasitizing black rats infested on cargo ships spread the disease across the Mediterranean and then throughout Europe.

The name "Black Death" comes from the symptom of the skin turning black due to blood vessel congestion. As the symptoms progress, gangrene occurs in the discolored areas. In severe cases, it leads to death. It is known that the Black Death that spread in 14th-century Europe claimed between 75 million and 200 million lives.

With the advancement of modern medicine and increased awareness of personal hygiene, the Black Death has disappeared from most parts of the world. However, sporadic outbreaks have occurred in Asia, North America, and Africa. The recently reported Black Death cases in China's Inner Mongolia are also known to have occurred in 2019 and 2020.

The Black Death can be transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids or blood of wild rodents such as marmots, field mice, and rabbits, or through flea bites. Human-to-human transmission occurs via droplets from patients with pneumonic or pulmonary plague.

The plague can be transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids or blood of wild rodents such as marmots, field mice, and rabbits, or through flea bites. It can also spread between humans via droplets from patients with pneumonic or pneumonic-type plague.
[Photo source=Pixabay]

After infection, there is an incubation period of 2 to 6 days, followed by symptoms such as chills, fever, muscle pain, joint pain, and headache. Symptoms may also include difficulty breathing, cough, sputum, low blood pressure, and kidney dysfunction. Without timely treatment, multiple organ failure or death may occur. The fatality rate approaches 50?90%, and because the disease progresses rapidly, anyone suspected of infection should immediately undergo testing and treatment at a hospital.

Preventive measures include thoroughly managing personal hygiene such as washing hands after going outside and minimizing skin exposure by wearing long sleeves and long pants during outdoor activities. If visiting areas where the Black Death has occurred, wearing a mask is mandatory, and food should be cooked thoroughly before consumption. Especially, wild rodents should not be eaten.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.