London Plague of 1665

The London Plague of 1665, also known as the Great Plague, was a severe outbreak of bubonic plague that devastated the city. It was caused by fleas carried on rats, transmitting the deadly bacteria Yersinia pestis to humans. The outbreak led to thousands of deaths, with estimates around 100,000 people perishings. Authorities implemented quarantine measures and closed public spaces to contain it, but the dense, unsanitary conditions of London facilitated its rapid spread. This event profoundly impacted the city's population, public health policies, and future responses to epidemics.