How common were the diseases and illness in middle passage?

The middle passage was the stage of the transatlantic slave trade in which enslaved Africans were transported from Africa to the Americas. The conditions on the middle passage were extremely harsh and unsanitary, and as a result, diseases and illnesses were rampant.

Some of the most common diseases and illnesses that occurred on the middle passage included:

* Smallpox: Smallpox was a highly contagious disease that caused fever, rash, and sores. It was often fatal, and it killed millions of people around the world.

* Yellow fever: Yellow fever was another highly contagious disease that caused fever, jaundice, and bleeding. It was also often fatal, and it killed millions of people in the Americas.

* Typhus: Typhus was a disease that was spread by lice and fleas. It caused fever, rash, and headache. Typhus was often fatal, and it killed millions of people around the world.

* Dysentery: Dysentery was a disease that caused diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. It was often fatal, and it killed millions of people around the world.

* Scurvy: Scurvy was a disease that caused bleeding gums, skin sores, and fatigue. It was caused by a lack of vitamin C, and it was often fatal.

In addition to these common diseases, enslaved Africans on the middle passage were also exposed to a variety of other illnesses, such as malaria, measles, and influenza. The conditions on the middle passage were so harsh that many enslaved Africans died from disease before they even reached the Americas.

The diseases and illnesses that occurred on the middle passage had a devastating impact on the African diaspora. They killed millions of people, and they left many others with permanent disabilities. The diseases and illnesses that occurred on the middle passage are a reminder of the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade.