Great Plague

Overview of the Great Plague

Disease	Bubonic plague
Pathogen strain
Source
Location	Europe
First outbreak
First reported
Index case
Dates
Date	1665–1666

The Great Plague refers to the last major epidemic of the bubonic plague to occur in England. It took place from 1665 to 1666 and was part of the second pandemic, a series of bubonic plague outbreaks that began in the 14th century and included the Black Death. The Great Plague primarily affected London, where it caused significant mortality and social disruption.

Background

The bubonic plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is typically transmitted through the bite of infected fleas that live on rats. The disease is characterized by the sudden onset of fever, chills, weakness, and swollen and painful lymph nodes, known as buboes.

The Great Plague of 1665–1666 was part of a series of outbreaks that had been occurring in Europe since the 14th century. The Black Death, which struck Europe in the mid-14th century, was the most devastating of these outbreaks, killing an estimated 25 million people.

Course of the Epidemic

The Great Plague began in the spring of 1665 in the parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London. The disease spread rapidly through the city, exacerbated by the crowded and unsanitary living conditions. By the summer, the death toll had risen dramatically, with thousands of people dying each week.

The city authorities attempted to control the spread of the disease by implementing quarantine measures, such as shutting up infected houses and marking them with a red cross. Public gatherings were banned, and trade was severely restricted. Despite these efforts, the plague continued to spread.

The epidemic reached its peak in September 1665, with over 7,000 deaths recorded in one week. As winter approached, the number of cases began to decline, and by February 1666, the epidemic was largely over.

Impact

The Great Plague had a profound impact on London and its inhabitants. It is estimated that around 100,000 people, or about 15% of the city's population, died as a result of the epidemic. The social and economic life of the city was severely disrupted, with many businesses closing and trade coming to a standstill.

The epidemic also had a lasting impact on public health policy. The experience of the Great Plague led to improvements in sanitation and the establishment of more effective public health measures in the years that followed.

Aftermath

In 1666, shortly after the plague had subsided, the Great Fire of London broke out, destroying much of the city. While the fire was a disaster in its own right, it also helped to eradicate the unsanitary conditions that had contributed to the spread of the plague.

Also see

• Black Death
• Bubonic plague
• Great Fire of London
• Yersinia pestis