Meningitis is a relatively rare infection that affects the delicate membranes -- called meninges (men-in'-jeez) -- that cover the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial meningitis can be deadly and contagious among people in close contact. Viral meningitis tends to be less severe and most people recover completely without specific therapy. Fungal meningitis is a rare form of meningitis and generally occurs only in people with weakened immune systems.
The Black Death is thought to have originated in the arid plains of Central Asia, where it then travelled along the Silk Road, reaching Crimea by 1343. From there, it was most likely carried by Oriental rat fleas living on the black rats that were regular passengers on merchant ships.
This bubonic plague is also credited for contributing to the appearance of the Black Death in the 14th Century. This pandemic reached as far as the Black Death, striking central and south Asia, North Africa and Arabia, and Europe as far north as Denmark and as far west as Ireland.his plague killed about one out of every three people in Europe. Also, before the Black Death that occured in 1328 A.D., there was a similar event that occured in 541 A.D. and lasted until 750 A.D., known as the Plague of Justinian.