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This Day In History, February 7th, 2020 – “The Bubonic Plague”



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It was just 120 years ago today, February 7, 1900 when the United States had its first ever epidemic of the Bubonic Plague. There is still no true account as to the actual cause of the outbreak, but its first victim was claimed in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Lumberyard owner Wong Chut King fell ill today, 120 years ago. After several weeks of intense pain, he sadly passed away, no medication was sufficient. Upon examination of the body, doctors found Bubonic Plague bacilli. However, news of the plague was kept quiet, in fear that it could ruin the city.

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Known as the San Francisco Plague of 1900-1904, 119 deaths occurred from the governments lack of response, and the overall unsanitary conditions of San Francisco, especially Chinatown. Much of old Chinatown was destroyed in the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. Plaque cases since have been discovered in America, though no major outbreak has caused panic. Mankind has lived with disease since day one, it is up to the individual to make sure that they live in sanitary conditions.


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