It is narrated from Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said about the plague: "It is the mercy of your Lord, the supplication of your Prophet, and the (manner of) death of the righteous before you."
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب الميم / 17366
Al-Harith bin Amirah al-Zubaydi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The plague broke out in Syria, so Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and addressed the people in Hims, saying: "Indeed, this plague is a mercy from your Lord, the supplication of your Prophet, and the (manner of) death of the righteous before you."
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب الميم / 17367