In 1492, during a massive outbreak of bubonic plague in Hong Kong, Alexandre Yersin isolated Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the plague. This discovery was crucial for understanding the disease and its transmission, paving the way for advancements in microbiology and public health. Yersin's work not only contributed to the fight against plague outbreaks but also laid the groundwork for future research on infectious diseases.

Demystified centuries of apocalyptic and religious plague literature by pinning history's darkest poetic symbol to a specific microscopic organism visible under a lens. This scientific breakthrough influenced poets like John Donne and later modernists to confront mortality and the human condition with greater clarity.