GIANTmicrobes - Plagues from History Plush Gift Box

Black Death arrived in the city of Messina in Sicily, 1347. By 1352, 25 million people a third of Europe's population were dead.

Small pox is caused by the variola virus and is one of the largest and most complicated viruses known.

Typhoid Fever spreads through contaminated food or water and if left untreated the mortality rate is as high as 20%. However there are now vaccines that are up to 70% effective.

First appearing in 1918 Spanish flu affected 500 million people around the world and is considered one of the deadliest natural disasters of the world.

Cholera is a water-borne bacteria. Producing a toxin that attacks the lining of its victims small intestine it causes stomach pains, diarrhea and life-threatening low blood pressure.