Context: The health officials in Oregon, US confirmed the first case of bubonic plague in the state since 2005.
About Bubonic Plague
- Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, a zoonotic bacteria, i.e. bacteria that can spread between animals and people.
- Y pestis is usually found in small animals and their fleas.
- It is one of three types of plague, also known as Black Death, gets its name from the swollen lymph nodes (buboes) caused by the disease.
- Between 1346 and 1353, the bubonic plague killed as many as 50 million in Europe.
- During the 14th century, the epidemic was commonly known as the 'great pestilence' or 'great death' due to the demographic havoc that it caused.
- It is usually resulting from the bite of an infected flea
Other types of plague:
- Septicemic plague happens if the bacteria enters the bloodstream, means when the infection goes all through the body.
- This often follows untreated bubonic plague, and causes additional, more serious symptoms. These include abdominal pain, shock, bleeding into the skin, and blackening of appendages, most often fingers, toes or the nose.
- Pneumonic plague is the most dangerous, and according to the WHO, “almost always fatal” if untreated.
- It happens when the bacteria enters the lungs, and adds rapidly developing pneumonia to the list of symptoms.
- It is the only form of plague that can be spread from person to person by inhaling infectious droplets also making it the most contagious.
Transmission of Plague
- According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is transmitted between animals and humans by the bite of infected vector fleas, direct contact with infected tissues, and inhalation of infected respiratory droplets/small particles.
Symptoms of Plague:
- It can cause fever, headache, weakness and painful, swollen lymph nodes, and usually happens from the bite of an infected flea.
Treatment of Plague:
- All forms of plague are treatable with common antibiotics.
- It can be fatal if it’s not treated.