Bubonic Plague

Definition

The bubonic plague is a specific form of the Black Death caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It is characterized by painful swollen lymph nodes called buboes.

Related terms

Epidemic: A sudden increase in cases of a disease above what is normally expected within a specific community or region.

Fleas: Small parasitic insects that feed on blood and can transmit diseases such as the bubonic plague.

Quarantine: Isolating individuals who have been exposed to an infectious disease to prevent its spread to others.