plague
noun
°(used absolutely, usually capitalized: The Pest) The pestilent disease "Plague", caused by the virulent bacterium Yersinia pestis and mostly known by its variant form bubonic plague.
°An epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence, but specifically by the above disease.
verb
°To harass, pester or annoy someone persistently or incessantly.
°To afflict with a disease or other calamity.
synonyms: pest