If I remember my history correctly, the plague arrived in England in 1348 (my studies are mostly of medieval England) through the arrival of a ship with ill crew members. The plague itself came from China and spread across the continent to the merchants of Europe who then spread it unwittingly. The plague was spread mostly by the bite of fleas from the rats that overran port cities. Naturally any sane flea would abandon a dead body for a live one. People spread the fleas (and the forms of the plague that were spread by human contact) when they fled infected areas. The numbers of dead are disputed by historians but range from 25 to 50 % of the population.
All of the above information only refers to the Black Death of 1348 in England. The Bubonic Plague still exists but is now curable with antibiotics. Squirrels here (west coast of Canada) still carry the fleas, apparently, but I've never heard of a case being transferred to people. I've always wanted a t-shirt (even though I don't wear them) that reads "I survived the Black Death", but I'd have to chase down a few squirrels to justify it.
Heather Abbotsford, BC Bright and sunny
At 10:39 AM 01/03/2004 -0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I was always taught that it came to England FROM Europe rather than the other way round and this would make sense as we are an island so would be unlikely to have it just occur naturally.
Anyone got any better knowledge of the 1400s as this is not my period - I'm better on the reoccurance in the 1660s when it certainly arrived here via the ships.
Liz
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