What serious illnesses were there in the

Bubonic Plague

* Also known as the Black Death

* Caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis

* Spread by fleas that live on rodents

* Symptoms include fever, chills, and swelling of the lymph nodes (buboes)

* Can be fatal if not treated quickly

Smallpox

* Caused by the variola virus

* Spread through contact with an infected person's respiratory droplets or bodily fluids

* Symptoms include fever, rash, and headache

* Can be fatal if not treated quickly

Tuberculosis

* Caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis

* Spread through contact with an infected person's respiratory droplets

* Symptoms include cough, fever, and weight loss

* Can be fatal if not treated properly

Cholera

* Caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae

* Spread through contaminated food or water

* Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration

* Can be fatal if not treated quickly

Yellow Fever

* Caused by the yellow fever virus

* Spread through the bite of an infected mosquito

* Symptoms include fever, jaundice, and bleeding

* Can be fatal if not treated quickly

Malaria

* Caused by a parasite called Plasmodium

* Spread through the bite of an infected mosquito

* Symptoms include fever, chills, and fatigue

* Can be fatal if not treated quickly

Leprosy

* Caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae

* Spread through prolonged contact with an infected person

* Symptoms include skin lesions, nerve damage, and deformities

* Can be disfiguring and disabling

Influenza

* Caused by the influenza virus

* Spread through contact with an infected person's respiratory droplets

* Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches

* Can be fatal, especially in the elderly and those with weakened immune systems

Measles

* Caused by the measles virus

* Spread through contact with an infected person's respiratory droplets or saliva

* Symptoms include fever, rash, cough, and runny nose

* Can be fatal, especially in young children