HISTORY VAULT

The English Sweating Sickness

The English sweating sickness was a deadly disease that appeared in England between 1485 and 1551. It caused several outbreaks and killed thousands of people, though the exact number of deaths is unknown. Many scientists believe that hantavirus infections most likely caused the plague.

The disease spread quickly, possibly through contact with infected rodents or insects, although the exact way it spread is still unclear. It had a high mortality rate of about 30 to 50 percent, which means many people who got sick died.

The signs and symptoms started suddenly and included chills, headaches, fever, weakness, and heavy sweating, followed by a fast heartbeat and sometimes death within a day. The illness often struck healthy people and spread fear across England during each outbreak.