Which disease is transmitted by small rodents and has caused significant outbreaks historically?

Bubonic plague is historically significant for its outbreaks, notably the Black Death in Europe during the 14th century, which wiped out a substantial portion of the population. This disease is primarily transmitted through fleas that infest small rodents, particularly rats. When these rodents die, their fleas seek alternative hosts, including humans, facilitating the spread of the plague.

The bubonic plague is caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, which can be found in various rodent species. The interactions between humans and these rodent populations, especially in urban areas, played a critical role in the transmission and explosion of the disease during its outbreaks. The historical context surrounding the bubonic plague exemplifies how diseases can emerge and spread in populations, often leading to catastrophic health crises.

Hantavirus, although also transmitted by rodents, has not historically caused outbreaks on the same scale as the bubonic plague. Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks, not rodents, and typhus is typically spread by body lice rather than by small rodents. Each of these other diseases has its own transmission mechanisms which do not relate directly to the significant historical outbreaks attributed to bubonic plague.