The effects of past pandemics and illnesses are still felt today and have been done so for millennia as a reminder of the destruction that illness can wreak on communities through fear and disorder.  

In late mediaeval Europe, there was a growing fear that Jews and other minorities were planning to poison drinking wells to spread disease and cause mass mortality. This new fear fueled existing prejudices against minority populations. This conspiracy, it is said, was arranged by these minority groups to overthrow the social order and kill out the elite. The response to them was persecution. 

Humanity was fragile as the major plagues of the 13th century swept over Europe, and explanations for how such a terrible force could swiftly decimate the population were sought. Jews were an easy target since they were already perceived as heretics by the Christian communities. Jews and Christians have different religious beliefs, which has led to miscommunication and, eventually, hate. This loathing has led to charges that Jews were to blame for the great plagues in the 13th century, which has continued to this day.