Was Ebola Behind the Black Death?

ABC News ^ | July 30, 2014 | Jen Sterling

[2ndDivisionVet]

Controversial new research suggests that contrary to the history books, the "Black Death" that devastated medieval Europe was not the bubonic plague, but rather an Ebola-like virus.

History books have long taught the Black Death, which wiped out a quarter of Europe's population in the Middle Ages, was caused by bubonic plague, spread by infected fleas that lived on black rats. But new research in England suggests the killer was actually an Ebola-like virus transmitted directly from person to person.

The Black Death killed some 25 million Europeans in a devastating outbreak between 1347 and 1352, and then reappeared periodically for more than 300 years. Scholars had thought flea-infested rats living on ships brought the disease from China to Italy and then the rest of the continent.

But researchers Christopher Duncan and Susan Scott of the University of Liverpool say that the flea-borne bubonic plague could not have torn across Europe the way the Black Death did....

[SpaceBar]

They got controversial and stupid mixed up.

[JSteff]

“mass graves from the 14th century and we find evidence that the disease then is the same disease as today”

What they often do not mention was the terrible lifestyle and habits.

Also with the fall of the Roman Empire, much of Europe lost clean running water and somewhat of a sewer system (among other things)

Europe lost those things and never recovered for a millennium. All things being equal (and they are not) just those two benefits of modern society help to prevent a repeat of the middle ages living situation.

Just the fact that the stores generally sell clean meats and fruits. Without running water and a sewage system that is not possible.

Relatively unlikely it would happen today.

[Inyo-Mono]

You need to read the book Return of the Black Death by Scott & Duncan, it will change your mind. I read it several years ago and it really opened my eyes.

[JSteff]

SoCal I agree. But the overall condition of the population (health and living conditions wise) also contributed to the ease of any pandemic becoming critical.

The running water and sewer systems of Rome kept diseases down for several centuries.. when those ended Europe was at risk.

[Robert357]

There has been interesting DNA studies of survivors and non-survivors of the Black Death and that it weeded out certain peoples/families and left others who were more genetically resistant. In some of the bacteria-based studies I have seen they stated that people of African ancestry were more likely to come down with the disease than people of European ancestry as the disease had already done a Darwinian sweep of the European continent. If the Black Death was virus oriented or a major part of it, then some of the survivors may have had a genetic difference that allowed them to survive.

[Bill93]

I’ve read a number of articles citing evidence that the black death started out as bubonic plague but spread so widely and quickly because it became airborne (pneumonic plague) which is caused by the same bacteria but is far more virulent and kills its victims in a different manner.

[crz]

Until it gets into the lungs. And I would wager that a lot died as a result back then.

[logi_cal869]

“New research”.

Wow, ABC. REALLY???

http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/viruses101/could_the_black_death_actually

From November 08, 2013.

The book cited in the article, Biology of Plagues: Evidence from Historical Populations, was published in 2005.

http://www.amazon.com/Biology-Plagues-Evidence-Historical-Populations/dp/0521017769

[txhurl]

Consider feces and food-landing flies as vectors vs rats... winged vectors have 100% speed transmission going for them.

[Bigg Red]

The source article refers to the pair as “researchers”, so I suspect they are not medical doctors.

They have a book out, so perhaps they are motivated by wanting sales of it.

[Bigg Red]

Got your screen name wrong in my #30.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks 2ndDivisionVet. Apparently they've not heard of Yersinia pestis.

[Salamander]

Obviously, the sheep are not panicking enough, just yet.

So, make crazy connections until they beg Big Brother to save them.

How long until Ebola is compared to Scarlet Fever?

[Salamander]

BP is already endemic in southwest rodents.

Somehow, we’ve all managed to survive.

[Salamander]

The mass extermination of “witches’ familiars” [aka cats and to a lesser extent, dogs] let the rats flourish.

More rats = more fleas.

Hysteria has teetering on the verge of a new Burning Time.

[Salamander]

Yersinia Pestis, either or, it’s still not Ebola.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yersinia_pestis

This is the Powers That Be trying to whip us all into a new, fear-stricken frenzy.

I’m not playing.

Screw Hegel and the dialectic he rode in on.

[gleeaikin]

Bubonic plague has three different forms, each more rapidly fatal than the previous. Bubonic with the swollen bubos of the lymph glands that turn black; septecimic which is like general blood poisoning and more rapidly fatal, and pneumonic which is spread through the air and highly fatal. Probably the kind of cases that did not fit the rule.

[shibumi]

You know, there's a lot of misunderstanding about rats. ((The rodendus vermikitis as they're called in Latin.)

It turns out our long tailed friend wasn't after all responsible for the dreaded bubonic plague as alleged through history.

Yes, sir. It was caused by an animal called the bubon.

That's right, and the threat by the way is still with us. So if anyone does see a bubon, contact your local authorities.

(Historical data courtesy of the Cliff Clavin Institute for the Preservation of Vital Triviality.)

[Salamander]

LOL

[Salamander]

Even worse are the Beebos.