Don't Call it a Comeback: The Bubonic Plague

Back in the day when you were sitting in history class learning about the Bubonic Plague, you probably thought, "Thank God for modern medicine." It really is too bad Will Smith didn't get a chance to go all I-Am-Legend on the Plague's candy-ass.

But don't think you're in the clear just yet. According to Bloomberg, a University of Chicago research scientist died from the Plague in 2009.

And he's not the only one - about 2,000 people each year are infected by the Plague (World Health Organization). But for some reason the CDC was actually surprised that someone died from the disease. Seriously? They are quoted as saying, "The severe outcome experienced by the patient was unexpected." Wow really? You're surprised that someone died from a disease that has killed almost 200 MILLION people? It's widely recognized as the disease that resulted in the Black Death, which killed an estimated 50% of Europe's population in the 14th Century.

Sure he was working with a weakened strain and there are effective forms of treatment that can limit mortality in diagnosed cases to under 15%, but as the article points out, for some reason the Plague is exempt from the strict regulations that come with studying other deadly diseases.

It never ceases to amaze me what kind of stupid policies we have in place. The Bubonic Plague is responsible for one of the deadliest pandemics in the history of the world, but its study doesn't need to be closely regulated? Makes plenty of sense. Especially since everyone was shitting their pants over the Swine Flu.