The Source of the Plague | Plague at the Golden Gate | American Experience | PBS

Summary

The transcript details the historical understanding of bubonic plague transmission, referencing the work of Paul Louis Simond of the Pasteur Institute and the British Plague Commission. It highlights the critical role of fleas carrying the *Yersinia Pestis* bacteria, acting as vectors from rats to humans, rather than rats themselves being the sole cause. This understanding leads to the practical conclusion that eradicating fleas, in addition to rats, is a significant strategy for disease control.