Do Rats Cause Bubonic Plague?
WouterWhether rats cause bubonic plague remains a mystery. The physical mechanisms are unclear, but the presence of rodents and fleas have been linked to the disease. These organisms have the ability to jump from rodents to humans, and can spread the disease. Currently, there is no cure for the disease, though people can take antibiotics.
The plague was a devastating epidemic that killed between 30 to 50 per cent of the population in Europe in the 14th century. The virulent bacteria that caused it were transmitted to humans by fleas and ticks. Although the spread of plague was primarily by humans, research shows that rodents could have carried the plague bacteria to people through airborne transmission.
There are many theories about the cause of the plague. Some historians believe it originated in Central Asia. Others believe it spread southward through China, India, and Persia. The most recent study suggests that the plague probably originated in Asia, mainly in China, and then spread to Europe.
Researchers have found that rats could be the main culprit. In addition to humans, they have been implicated in some previous plague outbreaks. Research from the late twentieth century shows that small rodents play a crucial role in maintaining reservoirs of plague bacillus. The rural shrew population of Madagascar, for example, carries the plague infection without being infected. In addition, the shrew population shares a common species of fleas with black rats.
