American plague
- Pronunciation
- /uh-MAIR-ih-kuhn-pleyg/
- Category
- Pathology
- Singular
- American plague
- Plural
- American plagues
Definition
A colloquial term historically used to refer to yellow fever outbreaks in the United States, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, which were transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Etymology
Derived from 'America,' the continent where the outbreaks were notably significant, and 'plague,' a term used historically for any profound epidemic disease.
Example
The city of Philadelphia was devastated by the American plague in 1793, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Synonyms
- Yellow Fever
Related Terms
Usage Notes
The term 'American plague' is largely historical and is not commonly used in contemporary clinical or scientific contexts; 'yellow fever' is the preferred term.