Great Plague of Vienna

The Great Plague of Vienna was a plague epidemic in Vienna probably around 12,000 people fell victim in 1679. Contemporary reports quantified the number of deaths with 70000-120000. Written verifiable are around 8,000 deaths, but this can only be regarded as a lower limit.

The first cases occurred first in the spring of 1679 in Leopoldstadt on and spread from there to the progression of the warm season quickly over the entire settlement area in Vienna. While the uses proposed by the later became known as the plague doctor from Vienna Doctor Paul de Sorbait hygiene measures apparently went unheeded, the plague was perceived rather as a divine visitation. Witness of this attitude is impressive to us in Abraham a Santa Clara " Merck's Wienn " in which people are asked to repentance and prayer.

The plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and is transmitted primarily by fleas which come from rodents, especially rats, in the human habitations. Reasons for the outbreak were the dense population of the metropolitan area particularly in the field of the suburbs and the lack of hygiene. As a bustling trading center of Vienna was visited by many travelers, so that the plague may have been brought in from abroad.

With the plague and the busker Augustin became famous with the song Oh du lieber Augustin is associated.