Is COVID-19 the new plague?

written by Dr. Stephen A. Berger A frightening pandemic arises from animals in Asia and spreads westward, killing thousands in Italy, France, Spain, and many other countries. The more severe infections are characterized by cough and fever, leading to progressive pneumonia. There is no specific treatment available, and entire cultures live in fear and uncertainty.   And so, during 541-542 C.E. Yersinia pestis the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, spread out from China into the Byzantine Empire. Few were spared, and an estimated 25 to 100 million Europeans went on to die during repeated waves of infection that struck the region over the next 200 years. As many as 5,000 plague deaths per day were recorded in the city of Constantinople. This “Justinian Plague” is named for the Emperor Justinian, who managed to survive an attack of the illness (less-fortunate victims included Pope Pelagius II and Wighard, Archbishop of Canterbury)  In recent years, much is written regarding the risk of the spread of infectious diseases related to global warming. In fact, there is some evidence that the Justinian plague was the product of global cooling. Five years before the onset of the pandemic, emissions from a volcano may have significantly lowered atmospheric temperature, resulting in the migration of rodents deprived of food. Fleas, which spread plague from rodents to humans, are unable to efficiently digest their blood meals at low temperatures, causing...
Source: GIDEON blog - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: Ebooks Epidemiology Events Outbreaks Source Type: blogs