How Many People Died During The Black Death?

How Many People Died During The Black Death?

The Black Death is the name given to a plague pandemic which occurred during the fourteenth century.  Records at the time were scant and unreliable. Nobody knows for sure how many people died. It has been calculated that in Europe alone somewhere between 75 and 200 million people died as a result of the disease.

There are several reasons for the high death rate;

• 100% death rate.  Once infected with the Yersinia pestis bacterium the victim was going to die.  

• Poor living conditions.  People at the time lived in cramped conditions with many people crammed into single rooms. There were often several people in one bed and poor hygiene.  They often didn't wash at all and didn't change their clothes; ideal conditions for fleas and bacteria to multiply and spread.

• Poor knowledge of disease transmission.  At the time no-one had any idea of how the disease was spread.  If people were aware of the fact that the disease was spread by fleas from rats they could have taken steps to avoid being bitten.

Thankfully we no longer need to worry about rats spreading the plague. With the advent of modern antibiotics but we do need to worry about rats destroying our possessions.  This new device will help; rat-repellent flooring for garages and factories.