Plagues - How deadly are they?

Welcome to My Blog on Disease!

In this unit of my STEAM course, Disease, we dove into the classification and impact of diseases—learning about endemics, sporadic cases, epidemics, pandemics, and more. We explored methods to combat these threats, starting with a Model UN simulation on handling a zombie apocalypse, where I represented the UK. Though my country survived, we ended up in massive debt, a clear reminder of the challenges leaders face even with ample resources.

For our Action Project, we each selected a disease and researched a specific historical outbreak. The task was to create a newspaper article explaining the disease's spread, impact, and prevention measures. I chose to focus on the Bubonic Plague and crafted a news story to communicate what caused its devastating outbreak, how it was controlled, and how similar outbreaks can be prevented today.

Through this project, I discovered fascinating details about the Black Plague’s deadly rampage across Europe in the 1300s. Writing a news article made this project feel fresh and engaging, pushing me to think beyond research papers. The Black Plague’s impact also changed how I view basic hygiene practices like hand-washing, making me realize how such small actions can protect against disease.

I hope you enjoy reading MY news article! 

The Elizabethan Times

    Special Report: The Black Plague Outbreak

In a rural village near Elizabethsburg, the Bubonic Plague—known as the Black Death—began its deadly spread. Here with us is Almog, a local resident who miraculously survived the ordeal. Almog describes seeing people in the streets growing pale and sickly, some with lumps on their necks and others vomiting blood. She isolated herself and her family, using herbal wraps and extreme caution. As her parents developed blackened extremities and weakened, Almog remained vigilant.

The Old World Health Organization (a precursor to today’s WHO) eventually helped manage the outbreak by enforcing cleanliness, setting up medical facilities, and administering antibiotics. Many villagers, however, suffered without access to proper sanitation, and the disease spread rapidly through infected fleas on rats.

“The Black Death’s Utter Destruction of 14th-century Europe, in One Scary GIF.” Vox, 17 Apr. 2016, www.vox.com/2016/4/17/11435620/black-death-europe-gif.

Reporter: I’m here again with Almog and have a few questions for you. First, what were the signs that this was more than just an ordinary cold?

Almog: People in the streets were visibly sick. Some were vomiting blood, and others had large, swollen lumps on their necks.

Reporter: When did these symptoms begin? How long did they usually last, and how did you manage to stay healthy?

Almog: My parents first showed symptoms about nine days before they passed. Each day, I wet a cloth with rose petals, lavender, and peppermint to cover my nose and mouth. I took care of my parents and made sure no one came near our home. My mother got sick first, growing weaker overnight. Soon, my father caught it, and they both developed severe symptoms, including their skin turning black.

Reporter: Why do you think this outbreak started?

Almog: People were living in extremely unhygienic conditions. They threw waste into the streets and didn’t wash their hands. It was no wonder illness spread so easily.

Reporter: In your opinion, what could be done to prevent an outbreak like this in the future?

Almog: We need better hygiene, as well as more access to clean water, food, and proper clothing. This outbreak exposed a complete breakdown in basic care and cleanliness.

Almog’s survival was due to her family’s choice to isolate themselves from the village. As her parents’ symptoms worsened—fever, chills, severe weakness, abdominal pain, shock, and blackened fingers—the Old World Health Organization (a precursor to the WHO) stepped in. Their first priority was improving local sanitation, setting up medical facilities, and distributing early antibiotics. Those with knowledge of past outbreaks initiated quarantine procedures, but most villagers were not so lucky. Lacking proper sanitation, they suffered as the disease spread further via fleas on rats.

The Bubonic Plague has struck around the world, with severe outbreaks in Asia, Europe, and Africa. Factors that increase risk include overcrowding, poor sanitation, weak immune systems, and proximity to infected animals. With a high R-value, or reproduction number, it easily spread to epidemic levels in the past.

While the Bubonic Plague is no longer the threat it once was, it’s vital to remember the importance of hygiene and take steps to prevent such deadly diseases from reemerging.

That’s all for now - LG

n conclusion, I really enjoyed this Action Project. Though we studied a serious disease, I learned valuable information, especially about the devastating impact of the Black Plague. Creating a news article made it a unique experience and gave me the chance to explore this topic in a new, engaging way.


Sources:

1. Byrne, Joseph Patrick. The Black Death. Greenwood, 2004.

2. Hays, J. N. The Burden of Disease: Epidemics and Human Response in Western History. Rutgers UP, 2009.

3. World Health Organization. "Plague." WHO, 2021, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/plague.