pestilence

noun

1.
a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal
pest pestis plague
2.
any epidemic disease with a high death rate
folkbane quale pest plague
Derived from:
pestilent pestilential
3.
a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of
canker
Derived from:
pestilent