The Plague
Feared and misunderstood for centuries, the plague is still a threat in many
parts of the world. More than 1,000 cases of the plague are reported worldwide
each year. There are three types of plague, each caused by the bacterium Yersinia
pestis:
- Bubonic plague
- Pneumonic plague
- Septicemic plague
The disease commonly affects rodents, and is passed to humans via the bite of
an infected flea. The disease can also be contracted by ingesting flea feces or
by inhaling the bacteria from an infected person's cough. The pneumonic type can
be aerosolized as a biological agent.
In the United States, bubonic and pneumonic plague have occurred in
California, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. Among rodents, prairie dogs,
rabbits and squirrels are the most common carriers of the plague; domestic cats
with the disease can transfer the bacteria to humans through a scratch or bite.
Overall, the disease is extremely rare in the United States.
Symptoms
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Bubonic Plague
- Extremely swollen and painful lymph glands, frequently in the groin
- Sudden high fever with chills
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Severe headache
- Seizures
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Septicemic Plague
- Fever
- Low blood pressure
- Digestive distress (e.g., nausea, diarrhea, cramps)
- Thinning of the blood, clotting difficulties
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Pneumonic Plague
- Persistent, severe cough with bloody, frothy mucous
- Breathing difficulty
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If you notice the above symptoms and have recently been exposed to
rodents or fleas, or have recently traveled in the western United States,
contact your doctor immediately. Symptoms can occur within hours or up to ten days.
Treatment
If the disease is treated early with antibiotics, the recovery rate is 95%.
For some patients, treatment includes hospitalization with respiratory therapy.
Because the disease, particularly the pneumonic form, is contagious, anyone who
has come in contact with a person who has the disease is treated with
antibiotics as a precaution.
Reduce Your Risk
Protect yourself against the disease by minimizing your contact with rodents
and fleas.
Rodent-proof your home and yard
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