When did the sweating sickness first appear in London?
The disease broke out in London on the 19th of September 1485. It had killed several thousand people by its conclusion in late October that same year.
Questions about Sweating sickness
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What were the symptoms and duration of the sweating sickness outbreaks?
Symptoms began with apprehension and cold shivers followed by a sudden hot and sweating stage lasting from half an hour to three hours. The disease typically lasted through one full day before recovery or death took place.
Who died from the sweating sickness during the Tudor period?
Victims included two lord mayors, six aldermen, three sheriffs, Arthur Prince of Wales who died on the 2nd of April 1502, and Henry Brandon 2nd Duke of Suffolk who died aged fifteen. Charles Brandon 3rd Duke of Suffolk also died of the disease at age thirteen after holding the dukedom for just an hour.
What theories exist regarding the cause of the English sweating sickness?
Researchers have noted that symptoms overlap with Hantavirus hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and proposed an unknown hantavirus as the cause. In 2004 microbiologist Edward McSweegan suggested the disease may have been an outbreak of anthrax poisoning from raw wool or infected animal carcasses.
How did the mortality rate vary among different groups affected by the sweating sickness?
The mortality rate among victims was highest in males aged thirty to forty years according to recorded accounts. Fifteenth century records show half the population perished in some areas while the disease did not discriminate against young seemingly fit men including those of the elite or privileged classes.