Over 5 million people died within five years of the largest outbreak from the Black Plague in Europe during the major outbreak that took place during the 1340s and 50s. The Plague was a major pandemic that decimated the population of Europe and Asia. The fatality rate of that pandemic was 90%, meaning that 90% of those who were infected were killed by complications due to the Plague. This is one of the highest infection rates of any pandemic. Over one third of Europe died of the Black Plague. However, scientists still are not sure whether it was bubonic, pneumonic, or septicemic. Since then, there has been a drastic decrease in the number of cases of the plague. Additionally, due to advances in early detection, the fatality of the plague has also gone down by 10%. In fact, there were only 9 cases of the plague in North America last year. Today, the disease is only common in rural parts of west Africa and east Asia.