Plague as a Biological Weapon

摘要: Three well-documented plague pandemics have occurred in the past two millennia, resulting more than 200 million deaths and great social economic chaos (Perry Fetherston, 1997; Pollitzer, 1954). The Justinian pandemic arose northern Africa mid-6th century, by 7th century had spread throughout Mediterranean near-eastern regions—severely impacting both Roman Byzantine empires. second pandemic, Black Death or pestilence, originated Central Asia, was carried to Sicily 1347 via ships from Crimea, rapidly swept through medieval Europe. By 1352, it killed 30% of afflicted populations, slowly playing itself out successive epidemics, including Great Plague London 1665 1997). third (Modern) began southwestern China mid-19th, struck Hong Kong 1894, soon rat-infested steamships port cities on all inhabited continents, several United States (US) (Link, 1955; 1930, caused 26 cases 12 deaths. these three predominantly bubonic form, emanating Yersinia pestis-infected rats fleas, although terrifying outbreaks virulent person-to-person spreading pneumonic form were recorded during course each. explosive contagiousness severity most completely documented Manchurian epidemics early 20th which involved tens thousands cases, virtually them fatal (Wu, 1926).