The Great Plague of London

The Great Plague of London occurred in 1665-1666 and was one of the last major outbreaks of the bubonic plague in England. It was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, transmitted through fleas found on rats. The outbreak led to an estimated 100,000 deaths, about a quarter of London's population at the time. Symptoms included fever, boils, and severe illness. Authorities implemented quarantine measures, including closing homes of the infected. The outbreak ultimately dwindled by the following year, with the Great Fire of London in 1666 further helping to eradicate the disease by destroying many rat habitats.