3. The plague was carried by Oriental rat fleas living on rats. The disease caused swelling in the groin, under the arms and behind the ears. These swellings were black and purple colour. This gave the disease its name 'The Black Death'. Victims died a horrible death. The symptoms could be seen 3 - 7 days after the flea bite.

4. Very often, people saw the disease as a punishment of God. They also believed that the disease spread because of bad winds. Doctors told people to open windows towards the north, not to sleep during the day, and not to work too hard. They cut open the skin and let the blood leak out. Of course, none of these helped.

5. It is difficult to talk about positives sides of a terrible thing like a plague pandemic. But at the beginning of the 14th century Europe was overcrowded and people had a lot of problems to get food, a place to live and the things they needed. After the plague there was enough space for everyone. Farmers could request better conditions and living standard of ordinary people improved.

6. The 14th century plague was not the only one. The same disease killed millions of people in different times of history.

What about today? Plague still exists in some parts of the world. In 2003, around 2,100 cases of the disease and 180 deaths appeared, mostly in Africa. In the United States 5 to 15 people get it each year - but it can be cured with antibiotics. Most people survive if they get the correct antibiotics in time.