What was thought to have disappeared hundreds of years ago is back. The Bubonic Plague struck Marquette, Michigan for the first time in history. This most recent case is one of 14 nationwide in the past year alone. The “Black Death” was the worst thing to hit the world in the mid-1300’s in Europe. The deadly disease, caused by a bacteria carried by fleas, killed over one hundred million quickly. While modern medicine has been confirmed to be able to treat the Plague, it has still caused some of the sufferers to pass away.

Up until this Michigan case, the individuals who have contracted the disease have lived in the West Coast. Does this mean the apocalypse is upon us and we are all doomed? It is highly unlikely. The Bubonic Plague will spread like it did in the 1300’s. Doctors and scientists have had hundreds of years to develop medicines and treatments to cure it.

While it is not impossible to contract this disease, it is still very improbable. Fleas that carry the Bubonic Plague are most likely to hitch a ride on rodents such as rats. This means, having contact with infected animals or being bit by an infected flea could cause you to also become a victim of the “Black Death.”

According to the CDC, precautions you can take to avoid contracting the sickness include checking your outdoor animals regularly for fleas, avoiding dead rodents, destroying areas where rodents can nest, and reporting sick, stray animals to the authorities. Symptoms of Bubonic Plague are basic flu or cold symptoms. The most noticeable and prominent symptom is a swollen lymph node in the groin, armpit, or neck area.

Now, while the chances of getting this disease are very slim, it is better to be safe than sorry. Nobody wants to be “that guy” or “that girl” who sends the world into a spiraling downfall and epidemic.