The English sweat disease was a mostly fatal infectious disease, presumably caused by a hantavirus. The disease broke out during the summer months and stopped when winter approached. Many victims die within 24 hours.
EnglandFrom 1485 to 1551, sweat disease occurred in England, hence it is often called English sweat disease.
From 8 August to the end of October 1485 England was hit for the first time by the "Sudor Angelicus", or the English sweat disease. In London, the disease was not detected until September 21, shortly after the triumph of Henry Tudor, Count of Richmond, after the battle of Bosworth Field.
In 1490, the English doctor Thomas Forestier, himself, described the disease. The cause was sought in general filth. Characteristics were headache, muscle aches, fever, excessive sweating and breathlessness. In 1508, 1517, and 1528, the infectious disease recovered as an epidemic. In 1551, the epidemic broke out in England, this time in Shrewsbury on the Severn. The weather was damp and misty, causing the disease to spread rapidly and reached London on July 8th. The end of the epidemic was around September 30th.
In 1552, the disease was described by Jan Caius, chairman of the Royal College of Physicians in London. Continental Europe
The disease also occurred in Italy in 1524. In Milan there were 50,000 victims.
In 1528, Janus Secundus, who lived in Mechelen just then, stayed with his grandparents on Walcheren, survived the disease. In September 1529, the disease reached the city of Antwerp, with around 400 civilians deceased including mayor Aert van Lierde. The clergy organized a special prayer day and a procession on St. Michael's Day, after which the disease disappeared.
In 1562, the disease was dominated in Holland (eg in The Hague), Germany, France and Italy. With the French army, many victims fell as they were defeated in Naples.
In Northern France, the disease resurrected in Picardy in the early 18th century and pulled south of France. In almost 150 years there were almost 200 outbreaks. From 1755 the disease also subsided in Italy, and in 1801 again in Germany.
In 1806, North Brabant was affected by the disease. King Lodewijk, the new king of Holland, visited the victims in Aarle, was shocked by suffering and sent the best doctors to the affected region at his own expense. A few weeks later, the epidemic was confined. Died to the sweat disease
Many other people died from other epidemics such as the plague and cholera. Known sweat disease victims were:
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