Page 124 - (DK) Danger! Open with Extreme Caution!

OUTBREAK!

BLACK
Ever since people started living in large groups, they have
been affected by outbreaks of disease. Epidemics affect whole
DEATH
communities, while pandemics spread around the world. What
made them more fearful was that no one had any idea what In only four years, the Black Death
caused them. Today, we know that outbreaks of disease are out one half of the population. This
has spread across Europe, wiping
caused by pathogens (germs) such as bacteria and viruses. dreadful disease, first reported in
But, even with this knowledge, we are still vulnerable to attack. bloody black sores, and a painful
1347, causes a high temperature,
plague—a disease caused by
death. It is believed to be bubonic
SMALLPOX HITS by fleas that bite infected rats.
bacteria that is passed to humans
THE NEW WORLD

The invasion of the “New World” by
and
conquistadors—adventurers
soldiers from Spain and Portugal—
has been a disaster for the Native
American peoples. Since they arrived
in the 15th century in search of gold
and silver, the Europeans have spread
diseases to which the native peoples
Two victims of the Black Death reveal
have no resistance. The most deadly
of these is smallpox—a viral disease
that has already killed millions. the horrible sores that cover their bodies.
CHOLERA
Native Americans hurl projectiles at food and water contaminated with
armed Spanish conquistadors.
The 19th century has seen several
pandemics of this disease. Spread by

bacteria, cholera causes diarrhea and
vomiting and often kills its victims. It
NAPOLEON’S 1817 and by the 1830s had spread to
first arrived in Europe from India in
ARMY FALLS poor and drinking water dirty.
the Americas. Cholera is more likely
to occur in cities where sanitation is

Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s cold and starvation, but most

Emperor Napoleon retreats with the remnants of his Great Army in December 1812.
The invasion of Russia by French
died in battle and from bitter
Great Army that began in April
were killed by an epidemic
1812 has ended in disaster. Of the
of typhus. This disease is rapidly
500,000 soldiers who headed for
spread—especially in cramped
Moscow, only 40,000 survivors
and unsanitary conditions—by
have returned to France. Many
bloodsucking body lice. location to tackle another outbreak of cholera.
Two public disinfectors pull their cart to a new
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