In 2017, Madagascar experienced a significant outbreak of the plague, with over 2,000 cases reported, including both bubonic and pneumonic forms of the disease. The outbreak was notable for its rapid spread and high number of pneumonic cases, which are more easily transmitted between humans. The World Health Organization and other international agencies provided support to control the outbreak, which was eventually brought under control through a combination of public health measures, including contact tracing, treatment with antibiotics, and community education.

In 1994, the city of Surat in India experienced an outbreak of pneumonic plague, a rare but severe form of the disease. The outbreak caused widespread panic, leading to the exodus of hundreds of thousands of people from the city. The Indian government implemented strict quarantine measures and launched a massive public health campaign to control the spread. The outbreak resulted in 56 deaths and highlighted the importance of rapid response and effective public health measures in controlling infectious diseases.

In 1947, a vaccine for the bubonic plague was developed, providing a significant advancement in the prevention of the disease. The vaccine was created by bacteriologist Dr. Karl Friedrich Meyer and his team at the University of California, San Francisco. It was initially used to protect laboratory workers and military personnel, and later became available for people in areas where the plague was endemic. The development of the vaccine marked a turning point in the fight against the plague, reducing the incidence of outbreaks worldwide.

In 1924, Los Angeles experienced an outbreak of the bubonic plague, marking the last urban plague epidemic in the continental United States. The outbreak was traced to infected rats and fleas in the city's harbor area. Public health officials quickly implemented measures to control the spread, including quarantines and extermination of rats. The outbreak resulted in 37 cases and 32 deaths, but swift action prevented a wider spread of the disease.

In 1894, during an outbreak of the plague in Hong Kong, bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin discovered the bacterium responsible for the disease, which was later named Yersinia pestis in his honor. This discovery was crucial in understanding the transmission of the plague and laid the foundation for developing methods to combat it. Yersin's work demonstrated that the disease was spread by fleas that lived on rats, leading to improved public health measures and strategies to control outbreaks.

The Great Plague of London was the last major outbreak of the bubonic plague in England, occurring in 1665. It is estimated to have killed about 100,000 people, roughly 15% of London's population at the time. The outbreak began in the poorer districts of the city and spread rapidly. The government implemented quarantine measures, and many wealthy citizens fled to the countryside. The epidemic ended in 1666, coinciding with the Great Fire of London, which destroyed much of the city and may have helped to eradicate the plague by killing the rats and fleas that carried the disease.

By 1351, the first wave of the Black Death had largely subsided in Europe, having killed an estimated 25 million people. The pandemic had profound effects on European society, leading to significant changes in the social and economic structures. Labor shortages resulted in higher wages for peasants, and the decline in population led to a redistribution of wealth. The Black Death also had a lasting impact on the Church, as the massive loss of life led to a questioning of religious authority.

In 1349, the Black Death reached Norway, brought by a ship that arrived in Bergen. The disease spread quickly through the country, causing widespread mortality. The Norwegian population was significantly reduced, with some estimates suggesting that up to two-thirds of the population perished. The plague's impact was felt across all levels of society, leading to a collapse in trade and a severe labor shortage.

By 1348, the Black Death had spread to England, arriving via the port of Melcombe Regis in Dorset. The disease spread rapidly, reaching London by the autumn of the same year. The impact was devastating, with entire villages wiped out and the population of England reduced by an estimated 30-50%. The social and economic structures of the country were severely disrupted, leading to labor shortages and a decline in trade and agriculture.

The Black Death, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, arrived in Europe in October 1347 when 12 ships from the Black Sea docked at the Sicilian port of Messina. People gathered on the docks were met with a horrifying surprise: most of the sailors aboard the ships were dead, and those still alive were gravely ill and covered in black boils that oozed blood and pus. The Sicilian authorities hastily ordered the fleet of 'death ships' out of the harbor, but it was too late. Over the next five years, the Black Death would kill more than 20 million people in Europe—almost one-third of the continent’s population.