What Is the Black Plague... And Should You Be Worried?

Yosemite National Park just shut down two campgrounds due to the plague. Should you be worried?
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↓Want more info?↓
National Park Service Public Health Advisory: www.nps.gov/pub...
The CDC on Plague:
www.bt.cdc.gov/...
www.cdc.gov/pla...
WHO on Plague: www.who.int/med...
--
Host, Producer, Editor
Anna Rothschild
Writers
Elizabeth Preston and Anna Rothschild
DP, Sound
Sam Stulin
Jazz Bass
Music Provided by APM
IMAGES
Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Heiko von Raußendorff
The black death. Watercolour by Monro S. Orr.
Wellcome Images/Munro Scott Orr
Danse macabre by Michael Wolgemut
Wikimedia Commons/Michael Wolgemut
Yersinia pestis fluorescent
Wikimedia Commons/CDC
CA Ground Squirrel on rock
Wikimedia Commons/Howcheng
Xenopsylla chepsis (oriental rat flea)
Wikimedia Commons/CDC
Plague -buboes
Wikimedia Commons/CDC
Acral gangrene due to plague
Wikimedia Commons/CDC
A rat leaving a ship via the mooring rope, thus spreading the plague. Drawing by A.L. Tarter, 194-Wellcome Images/ A.L. Tarter
SFX
Cockroaches
Freesound/StateAardvark¬
(used with permission from author)
Squeak Pack/squeak_10
Freesound/Corsica_S
Jacob’s Ladder 007
Freesound/DJ Chronos
MouthPop
Freesound/HerbertBoland
Produced by WGBH for PBS Digital Studios

[@veronicadiaz337]

I can't get over how happy she looks while talking about this... GO SCIENCE!!!

[@josephwatson5280]

Cry Ink Dont copy

[@YAYA5n]

Joseph Watson you keep saying don't copy to so many people but it is not copying. I have seen you say "don't copy" to people and they have DIFFERENT comments. copying is taking it word for word, and it is highly likely they didn't even see your comment.

[@uhoh5583]

Thesparks2000 ur right

[@icarus8121]

Joseph Watson You: maybe you should stop swearing and stop copying Me: ..............Shut the f*ck up.

[@beenboarding75]

666 likes

[@elisegabrielle3273]

“You can die!” The girl: 😄

[@jeezers]

😂

[@cupidisa]

When?

[@neuvivilette]

😳 lol

[@lanchiha9669]

Nooooooooooope

[@Logan_TheLegend]

@@cupidisa in the video

[@thorgarrettrs]

Lol I love how happy she looks while talking about something that is so dark.

[@someperson5506]

+Garrett Stopmotionandpranks I think it's rubbed off on me. A kid at my summer camp was horrified by the fact that I had a massive smile, while explained Guinea Worms to him :)

[@kadeemschool3555]

+Garrett Stopmotionandpranks haha ikr :) it makes it better :D

[@theblueghoul3067]

Lol, is hilarious right lol

[@antonius.martinus]

It makes me uncomfortable

[@luciarodriguez7843]

Garrett Stopmotion I was thinking the same thing

[@Angelo609]

“You can DIE” She saids while smiling.

[@Akemii]

I think she’s physco xD

[@debrakeith1982]

Dont worry shes probably a psychopath

[@jaydandonaldson937]

She smiled the whole vid I'm actually happy she makes it feel not do scary

[@jaydandonaldson937]

I thought if you touched something bad you get it

[@YoYo-nt7yf]

She's the plaque😂😂😂

[@KKNadig]

why is she so happy explaining how you die... Omg so many likes.....I din expect this. Thanks guys 😊❤️

[@valken666]

Because they're dying in a gross way...

[@steveisaiahkaraan5224]

Valken no because she is the GRIM REAPER

[@ludvigfrestadius8653]

Maybe because she dosen't want to scare the viewers

[@josephwatson5280]

Karthik Nadig Dont copy

[@uhoh5583]

Joseph Watson lol you say that to everyone

[@niharikag9164]

Who’s watching this in July2020? Apparently China has active cases on Bubonic Plague.

[@notreal9028]

Niharika G yh ahahaha

[@almiightyzack]

Yup lol

[@beasttitan9699]

Me

[@allehhhy]

im watching this. TODAY

[@dontusethisaccount6788]

Yeah!

[@zehnko7377]

welp......I'm moving to space.

[@buzz0_070]

Take me with you

[@ForeveGlitterGamer]

Fr tho 😂😂😂

[@justasocialreaposefangirlm6516]

Simon Vo same

[@captainjackpugh6050]

We have a cure

[@dimitrisantoniadis]

SSimon Gaming we have the cure science will never die

[@fireangel6038]

"Your more likely to get hit by lightning" Hun this is 2020. All bets are off.

[@jaggy4263]

Hahaha

[@nottherealearth9893]

I'm so over 2020 Now we have the Bubonic plague in California i'm done 😭

[@mariamaskari555]

ur not wrong...

[@pomfyruru779]

**never goes outside again**

[@axolonix]

PomfyRuRu you need to im sorry

[@skylarwhite4572]

THE SUN IS A DEADLY LAZER

[@oof_tf1929]

Skylar White 😂😂

[@newsomaliandemocratofbrazi3214]

NOT ANYMORE WE HAVE BLANKET

[@annabeththeextremeundertal2730]

PomfyRuRu AHHH THERES A SQUIRREL IN MY HOUSE

[@proxiluvsu5098]

Who's watching this because it's back again?

[@doyle5948]

You know it baby

[@seynabhashi3763]

Meee

[@zaya.88i.s14]

It’s the bubonic plague not this silly

[@denvertitar8628]

Yup

[@orenji7204]

@@zaya.88i.s14 is it not the same?

[@darkwolfcz434]

Welp time to become plague doctor

[@ohtontheknight3879]

I AM 22011 your welcome to join us

[@fortie6902]

Ohton The Knight You’re

[@sunnyanarchy8611]

I AM 22011 same

[@ianhayden6088]

Ohton The Knight you do know that plague doctors had almost no medical training and didn't help victims, they just decided if they'd die or not

[@kreengreenguy4601]

Ian Hayden Yep, he'd be perfect for the job, just walking around with a mask and a wooden cane.

[@muzna2868]

2:04 i'll just cough on all the people i hate

[@shan288]

lily. Lmao😂😂😂

[@hamzahaytham3940]

You’ll die before you see them suffer, what’s the point?

[@HannsDheonDoria]

GLOBAL Breaking News : Human spread diesease called, The Black Death. And kills *the whole people in Canada!* How? A person hides his nails and coughs to a person in canada and spreads!

[@xmarshmell0wfluffx214]

Hamza Haytham see them in hell😂💀 just kidding

[@Wparker23]

muzna same

[@jetm1234]

Please do a video on Malaria or MRSA, it would be magical.

[@grossscienceshow]

jetm1234 Great ideas!

[@aprilmorris4588]

+Gross Science VERY informative! I've spent time in those kinds of areas many years ago. If I get the chance to go back, I'll know what to watch out for.

[@spruce6001]

jetm1234 timing*

[@covid--ms7dt]

@@grossscienceshow how about a vid based on me

[@kurtcobainandtordlarssonswife]

@@grossscienceshow I've had MRSA :)

[@abbie1074]

Who’s watching this during the coronavirus pandemic just to feed their anxiety? No? 🙋🏻‍♀️😂

[@uuwuu1106]

RedRub me

[@mm-en7mw]

@@saifee me

[@hellhitta]

RedRub me

[@aydenandjennielaughterandg7839]

This was informed 4-7 hours ago we have no choice b it to watch it during COVID-19

[@merakki]

Damnt bobby get the wheelbarrow.

[@GtForLife123]

Good gosh Anna, this is horrifying. I guess I'll walk around with a gas mask now. :o)

[@GiuQuindici]

+Excalseras look, bacteria are everywhere, on your skin, in your mouth, in your digestive apparatus, in cheese exec. go around with a gas mask will make you just feel uncomfortable and at least stressed, thing that improve the possibility to develop cancer. of course I'm kinda joking. have a nice day

[@GtForLife123]

Yeah... I typed that jovially.

[@CapitalistWizard]

Excalseras Ppl Will think your a plague doctor lol.

[@aj4104]

I am paranoid now.

[@withasideoffries9816]

Protect your ankles because that's where fleas bite that's why plage doctors didn't do well they didn't protect thier ankles

[@alessandramunoz7557]

Why does she look so happy explaining the different types of plagues? lol

[@ItashaDutt]

U won't now

[@summer2334]

HHBJJDJEJKWKW

[@rtk_omar278]

Bc she spent years learning this so she is happy to share her years worth of work 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@augustwhite8903]

wow I just found your channel. you are so awesome

[@grossscienceshow]

+April Boyd No, YOU'RE awesome :D Thanks!

[@catherinec6856]

+Gross Science ur awesome!

[@nopenope2547]

Me too

[@rbgamergirl2858]

Ella Nicholson it is more of rays than anything else I've been learning about this in school

[@meomeep338]

April Bo

[@ClipzILike]

2019: Something similar to the plague is back in China Me:Ight imma head out

[@_l-pu2vo]

Oh shoot...

[@scarlett9132]

I know that’s why I’m watching this, but I don’t live in China so it’s all cool

[@truetzadikkim3692]

Bs''d Its Shechin, one of the plagues of Egypt. Its always there...connected to EARTHQUAKE RUNNING RATS VOLCANO ACTIVITY and mostly brought to you by a stray or your cat. BIDENS PILOSA TEA is the remedy and prevention. Do not take stuff from people that died, stay away from dead wild animals, cats, dogs, rats and snakes. When you smell sulfur, gases from volcanic activity, do not breath it in.

[@shiroutheb3st]

.... How Did You Know?....CoronoVirus Came Out Of A Sudden...

[@truetzadikkim3692]

@@shiroutheb3st in time of Yetzirat Mitzraiym it was there also. Bs''d in last REDEMPTION it will be/is similar. But instead of only Egypt being Mitzraiym, the whole world is. MAHARAL OF PRAGUE left oral tradition about the BLACK PLAGUE＝SHECHIN. Stay away from rats and the like, cats, dogs, snakes and anything from dead people. Pure speech. For us 613, for you 7 LAWS. KEEP IT, stay alive. 7 LAWS OF NOAH. Bidens pilosa tea.

[@sharkbaitproductions6380]

I don't care about the odds I'm still gonna run like hell when someone coughs near me and find the closest doctor mask or some type of gas mask but hopefully that never happens

[@hicrush2261]

wilp its happening in china right now

[@SpicyLemons]

This comment aged like fine wine

[@paladinsg7212]

Meanwhile 12 hours ago china got its first case

[@hhfbko]

Bubonic plague

[@vinwey]

Seriously, HOW DO YOU DO TO TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. This is a thing I cannnot explain. It is simply amazing !

[@twentiesinmotion]

Who came across when China got the plague

[@lostross]

If I got pneumonic plague I would cough on everyone at my school tbh

[@milosvincic3289]

um.... i dont remember making ur account

[@eikosimino5579]

Someone Online me too, because my school friends are total jerks, except for the girls

[@axolonix]

Someone Online same tho

[@atropa6894]

Then, if you survive, you'd be arrested for a biological terrorist attack. and yeah im serious, that counts

[@baileysvideos6599]

Lmao

[@clutchespurse2303]

I dressed as a Plague Doctor for Halloween. We went to a Halloween party and all the moms just screamed lmao. That was such a great time.

[@dynamicpiece]

Can I just say I LOVE!!!!! Gross Science!!!! :-)

[@grossscienceshow]

dynamicpiece Thanks so much! :D

[@crazytuber6774]

dynamicpiece I

[@mariasinnott6488]

Ok, who wants to come live on the moon with me.

[@nvg_distorted6027]

Im down

[@lukeg4992]

me please!

[@AliceDoesStuffThatIntrestThem]

Kangaroo_ slimez I’m down

[@thecolors009]

Let’s do it

[@stansmith3660]

MeMEMEMEMEMMEMEMEME

[@georgiagalason8156]

I love this account so cool my whole family was watching def subscribing

[@grossscienceshow]

+Georgia Galason Yay! Thanks so much, Georgia.

[@suju7247]

Anyone 2020 China Black Plague warnings?🤦‍♂️

[@Borderlands808]

There was a case in the US too!!

[@shamshaque9885]

😰😨😨

[@penand_paper5112]

Never got to Alberta, Canda. True, north, strong and free of plague...

[@professorrosenstock5026]

Penand_Paper You do have plague, its called Justin Bieber

[@Niche_Rat]

Professor Rosenstock hope I don't got it because in my province, we are nearly Justin-free

[@savannahanimals4974]

I used to live there

[@xxxalien_kittenxxx1609]

IS ANYONE GONNA REPLY WITH *CANADA*

[@truthseeker5496]

The last name explains the smile on her face.

[@christophertolhurst4918]

Eileen Benson. So true. Peace

[@plcflame]

Does animals like cats and dogs can manifest the symptoms (like the bulbs or black skin) of plague?

[@grossscienceshow]

plcflame Yes, I've read that they can get swollen lymph nodes. Not sure about the gangrene/dead skin, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Here's some more info: www.cdc.gov/plague/healthcare/veterinarians.html

[@antiairgamingchair-2543]

Gross Science recently i have been researching alot and found somthing quite scary

[@lzm05]

I just hope that fish can't catch it

[@albinomexicankurt]

Is there a phobia for being terrified of nuclear, radioactive, or plagues bc ik I'm afraid of those things....

[@copiasrats]

I'm doing a paper on the plague and I'm using this as a resource. Thanks Anna! 🙃

[@archaic995]

And this is one of the 100000000 reasons to *BARRICADE YOURSELF IN BED AND NEVER GET OUT*

[@queennaishusband1931]

wait rosthchild? and im struck by lightning

[@annabeththeextremeundertal2730]

akhtaru gregory how did it feel

[@angusftfboom5654]

akhtaru grego

[@parkerasel8129]

“Your more likely to be stuck by lighting then catch the plague.”

[@mattthorne8419]

I live next to an old mass burial sight for the Black Death. In Poole

[@samerakahn4634]

d

[@josephstalin579]

Kim Jong Un no

[@kimberlygause]

There's a plague outbreak in Congo and an illegal immigrant who crossed our border recently was found to have it and just recently in Mongolia two people,(one pregnant) boarded a plane and died on it. What is going on?

[@lost2311]

I like that she is smiling through the whole video

[@hurontoikiy7036]

she donno what was she talking about 😁

[@duuled]

5 years later now you should be worried

[@TheAngelobarker]

I love how enthusiastic you are about the subject matter even though it's a bit unconventional

[@angelare2881]

“That sounds really bad...” *pauses smiling* Me:🤨

[@someperson5506]

Could you do an episode that focuses on gangrene?

[@karlypearl696]

There was a plague outbreak in 1720 Another in 1820 And another in 1920 2020- *nervous sweating*

[@valken666]

This episode was really gross... in a educative way.

[@akharayim3590]

I have a friend that has a plauge disease or what you want to called it that has this disease

[@manovarshini2924]

Never seen someone who is very happy for explaining pandemics...

[@dartdog4317]

As soon as you said your last name was Death..... bye Felicia

[@ZidNOOB]

2020:write that down! Write that down!

[@SamA-xq1bm]

This was in 2015, now in 2019 there was like 50 cases of the plague in LA alone!

[@pastelcoke]

Glad I'm watching this now so I'm not paranoid af of dying

[@xryxix]

Well i do like that its less likely to catch vs getting shocked by lightning but now i dont wanna camp anywhere

[@tornbutterfly5351]

i was wondering is it also likely to be in the UK or the US? I found this very intresting great video like always! :D

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

It's not in the UK,unless there are samples in some high security research facilities

[@mike-jv4pm]

Wait, squirrels have this?!!!!! Oh hell no. No more feeding the local squirrels!

[@shoncg]

I just found your channel!!!

[@grossscienceshow]

+창근 손 Welcome!!!

[@markus5144]

She sounds so excited, I could really imagine her saying "Your fingers turn black and die off, isn't that exciting?"

[@sunlight8496]

buzzfeed feed's new video about disease bought me here

[@reject_degeneracy9221]

Yes.. yes you should be worried

[@ItzFox]

just here from that bubonic plague in china

[@skullx_cheezy7651]

Me

[@anonymousandcool]

The smiles and wild gesticulation really gives some extra pep to the plague talk.

[@callmelara4673]

China:I'm about to end this world's whole career

[@bradstewart1996]

My new favourite KZbin channel

[@avablomenberg3375]

Someone strap me to a rocket and launch me to the moon. This is some freaky stuff boi

[@hemkumarravi9468]

Can we cure plague by radiation therapy or heat therapy

[@mermaidlagoon]

when I was a young boy my father took me into the city guess I joined the black parade when I get this read more

[@rodneyalbert7769]

K Kin-Ya-Ku MCR

[@Christina-my9nf]

YUS

[@mackenziedorme56]

You didn't fool me

[@natacialallathin7774]

...wow....just, just wow

[@that1randomkid960]

Why you bully me

[@girlystuff7868]

I love that she's so happy explaining about something so dark

[@what3374]

the girl is kind of disturbing, :/

[@iLoveMyLean]

Anybody watching this in 2020 because of the Bubonic plague Cases in china

[@leavelone1674]

There is nothing like .... seeing human die in one of the most cruel way and this girl smiling cheerfully talking about it ....in 1 transition.

[@subhamdebnath9960]

Who's here after the corona outbreak?

[@user-13446]

Me

[@AmbiiAmbrr]

So that means it's basically impossible in Canada as there are basically no chances of getting struck by lightning because THERE ARE NO LIGHTNING IN CANADA

[@alicethehetalian5737]

Imagine an antibiotic resistant plauge...

[@alialaddin3803]

Not impossible, but vaccination is the answer if that happens. A scary thought would be a virus that has the symptoms of the plague, has the ability to mutate its outer protein structure, has the ability to rapidly multiply so antibodies can't keep up, and is airborne. That would be a recipe for disaster.

[@heyweareahurricane2318]

Ali Aladdin NIGGA WE FUCKED IF THAT HAPPENS

[@diegoacosta8550]

Unless we fuse with machines, we're fucked. Maybe being trapped in a metal suit isn't as bad as having egg-sized lymph nodes.

[@shadowmatrix0101]

@Ali Aladdin - you're almost describing pneumonic plague since it has symptoms of the flu at first, the ill informed would hide away in their homes waiting for the swelling to go down on their lymph node areas until it becomes so bad they take the bus/walk/any public transportation wandering through the general population coughing up clouds of plague to everyone passing by, including hospital staff and people waiting in the hospital e.r. Even with antibiotics, our global transportation system like cruise ships and airplanes would get millions infected and dying before any immunization or antibodies could be administered. The plague takes less than 72 hours in some cases to kill a person. At most a week. You can infect a lot of people in a week.

[@002stripe]

Does this have a ph level? Should we all be drinking baking soda and water mix?

[@kashyapshirodkar7947]

Anyone here after 2 new cases in China?

[@WynnJirTheGreat]

there isn't gonna be a breakout I don't think I hope not we have antibiotics so it should be fine the mortality rate is only 8%-10% so it's not that high

[@rsingh1252]

she didn't do the little thing before she said gross science... so dissapointed

[@googleisgayvikkstar1567]

But now? We have *CORONA*

[@corvidwyrm4113]

If the plague comes back, can I, a plague doctor, finally get my job back?

[@tlask8470]

Here's a song about the plaug: "Ring around the rosie, a pocket full of posie, ashes, ashes, we all fall down."

[@what3374]

umm, do you mind 😳

[@natacialallathin7774]

Plauge**

[@charlesofosuhene208]

Thank you for the information.

[@Ness_UK]

what if scp-049 ccures you you would become scp-049-2?

[@natacialallathin7774]

Oh dang

[@jaraddondei8541]

They way she is Smiling while saying deadly

[@astroverse6622]

Who else came here because china made gave us another plague?

[@emegrande]

IM SO SCARED- THERES THIS GROSS THING UNDER MY BIG TOENAIL- AND ITS BLACK- MY MOM SAYS I ACCIDENTLY HIT MYSELF WITH SOMETHING SO IT TURNS A DARK PURPLE BUT IDK

[@NINATV_]

Misayo Glitter lmao I can imagine your fine. Do you go outside a lot?

[@ambitionambition1027]

its a bloodblister

[@emegrande]

@@ambitionambition1027 oh ok thanks

[@emegrande]

@@NINATV_ Uhh, sometimes? Lol

[@NINATV_]

Misayo Glitter Well did you watch the video? You’re fine lol the chances of that happening are extremely low

[@AdamMT1618]

Anyone else look this up after watching Inferno? lol

[@TrucksNTrains-m6x]

Every virus gansta till' the bubonic plague pull up

[@gaming4K]

Is this woman sick or why does she smile when she is talking about the world's worst bacteria? 😖

[@cr8880]

Thanks! You have helped me so much with my history project!

[@venice_herr3ra]

I love how she was smiling the entire time 😂

[@mike-jv4pm]

I think she's doing that to calm the most paranoid watchers.

[@Feelrightathome]

So if ur fingers turn black they still can get saved?

[@jassienib3192]

1:27 now i want the plague so i cam say: i have big Buboes

[@thedisturbedone5026]

then why should I be worried? ......

[@temmie5152]

Love how the thumbnail is a hand with frostbite

[@lloyd4767]

Title: what is the plague and should you be worried? People: to late! 500 years to late!

[@havoc2941]

Is there any symptoms like sickness feeling, and what happens for you to treat it early

[@eveangreen1871]

The Corona: Am I a joke to you???!

[@et4313]

Help our world everyone.. Our world is dying.. Stop the virus. Help our people. Live our lives happy!

[@sophiie.837]

Hi. I have one question. Who are what are the Plague doctors? What is their history? WHO ARE THEY?

[@krunkeespogukappufav7110]

It's back

[@瓦尔科维奇伊万诺]

I have all this simpthoms what do i do. I was camping with my frind in the europa in the croatia in istra only that i don't have is black fingers and i usali have a wery high fewer

[@JoyLupiyacarmine]

Her smile and delivery are really giving a different message. Wow. Hahaha... Anyway, still informative. Great. It lingers IN THE AIR for an hour. Just what we need in 2020. Awesome.

[@vikuya9981]

* Knee Itches * * Sees Mosquito Bite On Knee * W-Wait.. AM I.. AM I GETTING IT?!