pestilence

nouns

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
any epidemic disease with a high death rate
is derived from
is derived from
a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of
"racism is a pestilence at the heart of the nation"; "according to him, I was the canker in their midst"
is derived from