pestis
2
9.9
- noun
- /ˈpɛstɪs/
- Archaic
:
peste
- The Black Death bubonic pandemic, believed to be caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is estimated to have killed between a third and two-thirds of Europe's population after it spread to Europe in 1347 from Southwestern/Central Asia.
- Yersinia pestis
Examples
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Some say the Black Death was a bacterial strain of Yersinia pestis.
Blog text (28) -
The bacteria, Yersinia pestis, is prevalent in rats, and it is transmitted to humans via flea bites.
Blog text (28) -
Plague, a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, has been responsible for at least three pandemics.
Academic text (2013) -
Yersinia pestis is transmitted to humans through flea bites, making it a significant public health concern.
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The bacterium pestis can cause severe illness in humans if not treated promptly after exposure.
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During outbreaks, understanding how pestis spreads is crucial for preventing further infections.
Synonyms
266
6.6
A very serious disease that spreads quickly and kills many people
11
6.7
A serious disease that spreads and causes fever and painful swollen glands
7
7.8
A disease that kills many people quickly, for example the plague
1
9.9
A serious infectious disease often spread by rats and fleas
Compounds
- Archaic
A serious disease causing fever and painful swollen glands spread by fleas from rats
Surface Forms
Etymology
Pestis comes from the old Latin word pestis meaning 'plague' or 'pest', and it is the source of the English word pest and the word pesticide. So pestis today names the serious disease called the 'plague' that can pass from animals like rodents to people, which is why the name links to 'pest' and 'plague'.