It wasn’t rats who carried plague but their fleas – the rats died of the plague too. Also, some epidemiologists thing that the bubonic plague in the Middle Ages saved the world from a much worse (because it would have a much larger population to play with) epidemic now. Although they are totally different organisms, AIDS and bubonic plague attack the immune system in the same way. Human populations which have suffered bubonic plague epidemics in the past – which is most places outside Africa – have a degree of resistance to plague which also confers some resistance to AIDS, enough to slow its spread a bit. If not for the little ratties and their fleas, AIDS would have ripped through the rest of the world the way it has in southern Africa.
There is good reason to believe that the fleas were spread around Europe as much, or more, by human hosts than rats.The plague spread from town to town in parts of Europe faster than a ox-cart could travel and far faster than a rat could travel.LOTS of merchant travel in that day and age was by people carrying goods on their back. Especially for lighter “luxury” goods like sewing needles and thread, light tools like knives and things like that. That and things that were traded between towns. Neighbor to neighbor. Faster than an ox-cart.
Templo S.U.D. over 7 years ago
that would be interesting theory
Phred Premium Member over 7 years ago
And it really wasn’t their fault! At least according to a Pixar short.
Claire Jordan over 7 years ago
It wasn’t rats who carried plague but their fleas – the rats died of the plague too. Also, some epidemiologists thing that the bubonic plague in the Middle Ages saved the world from a much worse (because it would have a much larger population to play with) epidemic now. Although they are totally different organisms, AIDS and bubonic plague attack the immune system in the same way. Human populations which have suffered bubonic plague epidemics in the past – which is most places outside Africa – have a degree of resistance to plague which also confers some resistance to AIDS, enough to slow its spread a bit. If not for the little ratties and their fleas, AIDS would have ripped through the rest of the world the way it has in southern Africa.
Happy, happy, happy!!! Premium Member over 7 years ago
There is good reason to believe that the fleas were spread around Europe as much, or more, by human hosts than rats.The plague spread from town to town in parts of Europe faster than a ox-cart could travel and far faster than a rat could travel.LOTS of merchant travel in that day and age was by people carrying goods on their back. Especially for lighter “luxury” goods like sewing needles and thread, light tools like knives and things like that. That and things that were traded between towns. Neighbor to neighbor. Faster than an ox-cart.