The "Black Death" could be back....According to the Daily Mail.

Run_to_da_hills

According to the Daily Mail Scientists have discoverd a 21st century version of "black plague" that spreads from rats to humans. Strains of a Virus Bartonella have been discovered in Brown Rats which are common in Europe. The virus is also spread from fleas in the same manner as the black plague. Could this be true or is it just scaremongering from a British tabloid?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1088887/Scientists-discover-21st-century-black-plague-spreads-rats-humans.html

whitser

i'd say it never went away. black death was spread by flea bites. as most people in todays world dont live with rats the way they did back then there's little to worry bout. if it has been found on brown rats there might be an odd case but im sure its treatable.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Typical Run to da Hills thread.:D

I'd worry about a lot of other diseases carried by Rats before I'd be concerned about Black Death!

Run_to_da_hills

Ira Hissing Lumber wrote: »

Typical Run to da Hills thread.:D

I'd worry about a lot of other diseases carried by Rats before I'd be concerned about Black Death!

But isn't it said that at any given time in the city you are no more than twenty feet from a rat. :eek:

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

But isn't it said that at any given time in the city you are no more than twenty feet from a rat. :eek:

So they say, but I'd still worry about a lot of other diseases carried by Rats before panicing about the Black Death.

Run_to_da_hills

Ira Hissing Lumber wrote: »

So they say, but I'd still worry about a lot of other diseases carried by Rats before panicing about the Black Death.

You could also say the same thing about surveillance cameras, you are no more than 20ft from one.

It wasn't me!

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

You could also say the same thing about surveillance cameras, you are no more than 20ft from one.

Well at least you're fairly wide-ranging in your paranoias...

Run_to_da_hills

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Well at least you're fairly wide-ranging in your paranoias...

I actually like rats, they make great pets, they are highly intelligent and are not as intrusive as CCTV. Read the latest http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1089966/Minority-Report-comes-Britain-The-CCTV-spots-crimes-BEFORE-happen.html

gversey

Whats this thread about??? Rats or CCTV cameras.

bogtreader

Its the daily mail enough said

Run_to_da_hills

gversey wrote: »

Whats this thread about??? Rats or CCTV cameras.

They have a lot in common, in any European city these days you are no more than 20 feet from them.

dogmatix

But bear in mind that the article refers to a new virus: this is not the original black death of the mid 14th century, aka Bubonic plague.

Even regarding that pandemic, scientists and historians are still not entirely sure what exactly the black death was as many of the symptoms described do not match exactly the symptoms of modern bubonic plague.

Could not happen to the same extent today - cities are much cleaner environments then their 14th century predecessors and we know all about the rat-flea-human relationship which they did not understand in "ye olde times".

Run_to_da_hills

dogmatix wrote: »

But bear in mind that the article refers to a new virus: this is not the original black death of the mid 14th century, aka Bubonic plague.

Even regarding that pandemic, scientists and historians are still not entirely sure what exactly the black death was as many of the symptoms described do not match exactly the symptoms of modern bubonic plague.

Could not happen to the same extent today - cities are much cleaner environments then their 14th century predecessors and we know all about the rat-flea-human relationship which they did not understand in "ye olde times".

Unless it was genetically engineered by the powers that be as form of global population control, more than half the world still live in primitive 14th century sanitary conditions.

dogmatix

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Unless it was genetically engineered by the powers that be as form of global population control, more than half the world still live in primitive 14th century sanitary conditions.

Aha - did not consider that. Good point. A new plague or lab manufactured virus would devestate the third world I suppose.

Run_to_da_hills

dogmatix wrote: »

Aha - did not consider that. Good point. A new plague or lab manufactured virus would devestate the third world I suppose.

Im sure it has been tried already. :eek:

Simi

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Im sure it has been tried already. :eek:

I'm sure it hasn't. Try keeping the crazy to yourself for once.

boneless

Locked.