What disease is famously associated with rats?

The Plague is famously associated with rats due to its historical and epidemiological context. The causative agent of the Plague, Yersinia pestis, is primarily transmitted to humans through fleas that infest rodents, particularly rats. Throughout history, particularly during pandemics such as the Black Death in the 14th century, rats played a critical role in the rapid spread of the disease in human populations.

Understanding the mechanism of transmission highlights why Plague is the best answer: it is specifically linked to the relationship between rats and the fleas that carry the bacterium. Other diseases, while they may involve rodents, do not have the same historical significance or primary ecological association with rats as Plague does. For example, Hantavirus is primarily associated with deer mice rather than rats, and Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks, not rodents. Similarly, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by a tick-borne pathogen and does not involve rats as a primary vector. This clear association establishes Plague as the disease most famously connected to rats.