White plague

White Plague is a term used to refer to two distinct diseases: tuberculosis in humans and a coral disease affecting marine ecosystems.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, often referred to as the "White Plague" in historical contexts, is a widespread, and in many cases fatal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease typically attacks the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air when people who have an active TB infection cough, sneeze, or otherwise transmit respiratory fluids through the air.

Coral White Plague

The term "White Plague" is also used to refer to a type of coral disease that causes rapid tissue loss in hard corals. First described in the 1970s, White Plague has been responsible for significant losses in coral populations in the Caribbean Sea and the Florida Keys. The disease is characterized by the rapid loss of living coral tissues, which appear white as they die, hence the name "White Plague".

See also

• List of historical diseases
• Coral reef protection
• Marine conservation