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“Pneumonic Plague Is Diagnosed in China - The New York Times” plus 2 more

“Pneumonic Plague Is Diagnosed in China - The New York Times” plus 2 more


Pneumonic Plague Is Diagnosed in China - The New York Times

Posted: 12 Nov 2019 10:54 PM PST

BEIJING — Two people in China were diagnosed with plague, setting off a panic on Tuesday about the potential spread of the highly infectious and fatal disease and prompting China's government to warn citizens to take precautions to protect themselves.

Beijing officials said the two infected people came from Inner Mongolia, a sparsely populated region of northern China. They sought treatment on Tuesday in a hospital in Beijing's Chaoyang District, where they were diagnosed with pneumonic plague, according to the government office of the district.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Weibo, the microblogging site, that there was no need for Beijing residents to panic and that the risks of further transmission are "extremely low." The authorities quickly isolated the patients, conducted epidemiological investigations on the people who could have been exposed and disinfected all the relevant sites, the CDC said. They have also strengthened monitoring of patients with fever, it added.

Pneumonic plague is one of three types of infectious disease known as plague caused by the same bacterium, Yersinia pestis. Patients diagnosed with pneumonic plague, which causes high fevers and shortness of breath, sometimes first contract the closely related and more well-known disease, bubonic plague.

Fears are mounting in China over a possible outbreak of the disease, once known as the Black Death, which killed tens of millions of people in medieval Europe, and spread through Asia and Africa.

Last month, the authorities in China said they would strengthen quarantine measures to prevent plague from entering the country after Madagascar was struck by a fast-spreading outbreak of the disease. It is unclear when the cases were first detected in China but residents are asking why the authorities took so long to diagnose and disclose the problem.

Li Jifeng, a doctor at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital where the two people sought treatment, wrote on WeChat, a social media platform, that the patients sought treatment on Nov. 3. That post, which has since been deleted, was published by CN-Healthcare, a website that covers health care news in China. Dr. Li could not be reached for comment and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital declined to comment.

Dr. Li wrote that the patient she saw was a middle-aged man, who had a fever and complained of breathing difficulties for 10 days. He sought treatment at a hospital in Inner Mongolia but his condition did not improve. His wife also developed a fever and respiratory problems.

"After so many years of specialist training, I'm familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of most respiratory diseases," wrote Dr. Li. "But this time, I looked and looked at it. I couldn't guess what pathogen caused this pneumonia. I only knew it was rare."

On why the authorities took so long to make the announcement, Dr. Li wrote that signs of any infectious disease need to be repeatedly verified and investigated, and such announcements cannot be "transmitted casually."

The police quarantined the emergency room in the Chaoyang Hospital on Monday night, the news outlet Caixin reported, citing residents.

On Tuesday, Chinese censors instructed online news aggregators in China to "block and control" online discussion related to news about the plague, according to a directive seen by The New York Times.

Skeptical Chinese internet users have charged the government with being slow to disclose news about the disease, which is transmitted between humans and kills even faster than the more-common bubonic form. China has a history of covering up and being slow to announce infectious outbreaks, prompting many people to call for transparency this time.

"The plague is not the most terrifying part," one user wrote on Weibo. "What's even scarier is the information not being made public."

If left untreated, pneumonic plague is always fatal, according to the World Health Organization. But recovery rates are high if detected and treated with antibiotics, within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms, the agency said.

Another user on Weibo called on the government to disclose how the patients arrived in Beijing from Inner Mongolia. If the patients traveled on their own using public transportation they could have spread the disease to many people.

"How many people have they encountered potentially?" the user wrote. "Only 2 kilometers away from Chaoyang Hospital. I'm shaking and trembling."

According to China's health commission, six people have died in the country from the plague since 2014. The most recent case was recorded earlier this year.

Officials have warned people to avoid traveling to infected areas and contact with rodents.

Elsie Chen and Zoe Mou contributed research.

Couple Diagnosed With Contagious 'Black Death' Stokes Fear in Beijing - Newsweek

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 06:53 AM PST

Pneumonic plague
An anteroposterior (AP) chest x-ray of a plague patient revealing bilateral infection, greater on the patient's left side, which was diagnosed as a case of pneumonic plague, caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis. Pneumonic plague may develop from inhaling infectious droplets or may develop from untreated bubonic or septicemic plague after the bacteria spread to the lungs. The pneumonia may cause respiratory failure and shock. Pneumonic plague is the most serious form of the disease and is the only form of plague that can be spread from person to person (by infectious droplets). Image courtesy CDC/Dr. Jack Poland, 1975. Smith Collection/Gado

A couple from China's remote Inner Mongolia province traveled to Beijing earlier in the week seeking treatment for symptoms including fever, chills, nausea and vomiting. On Tuesday, Chinese officials confirmed that the couple had pneumonic plague, a severe form of the so-called "Black Death" that decimated European and African populations in the 14th century.

Unlike the better-known bubonic plague, which is mainly transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, such as fleas, pneumonic plague can be transmitted from person to person by the airborne particles contained in an infected person's cough, similarly to the common cold.

Left untreated, pneumonic plague is always fatal, causing death within 48 to 72 hours. However, "antibiotic treatment is effective against plague bacteria, so early diagnosis and early treatment can save lives," according to the World Health Organization. "Recovery rates are high if detected and treated in time (within 24 hours of onset of symptoms)," WHO noted.

On Weibo, a Chinese social media platform that is often compared to Twitter, a hashtag "Beijing confirms it is treating plague cases" popped up—and was quickly suppressed—after the news broke, according to CBS.

"I just want to know how these two came to Beijing?? By train, airplane, or did they drive themselves?" one user asked. "Bird flu in the year of the rooster...swine fever in the year of the pig. Next year is the year of the rat...the plague is coming," another suggested.

China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued its own message via Weibo on Wednesday: "After the two cases were found, the Beijing Weijian system has timely isolated the cases and carried out detailed information on the activities of the cases after entering Beijing. The epidemiological investigation conducted detailed investigations on suspected exposed populations, conducted medical observations and preventive medications for the contacts, conducted terminal disinfection of the relevant sites, and strengthened the monitoring of fever patients."

"The risk is extremely low," the agency added.

After the couple was diagnosed, workers at Beijing's Chaoyang Hospital replaced all of the chairs in the emergency room while police stood guard, according to reports from Chinese outlet Caixin Global.

"The (Chinese) National Health Commission are implementing efforts to contain and treat the identified cases, and increasing surveillance," WHO China Coordinator Fabio Scano told CBS News on Thursday.

On Friday, one of the patients was in "critical but not deteriorating" condition, while the other was in stable condition, NPR reported. The couple have been relocated from Chaoyang to another unspecified hospital in Beijing.

Other countries that have experienced plague outbreaks in recent years include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Peru. "In Madagascar cases of bubonic plague are reported nearly every year, during the epidemic season (between September and April)," according to the WHO.

What is the plague that has hit China and why there is alarm in that country - ThePrint

Posted: 17 Nov 2019 02:56 AM PST

Two people in China have been infected with pneumonic plague, the most contagious form of the disease (representational image)

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New Delhi: Two people in Beijing were diagnosed with the pneumonic plague Tuesday. The pneumonic plague infects the lungs and though lesser known than the bubonic plague, is more deadly, as it can be transmitted between humans

According to Chinese officials, the two infected people came from Inner Mongolia and travelled to Beijing seeking treatment. Public health officials are now working to ensure that the disease does not spread. 

The news, however, has caused alarm among Chinese citizens with someone taking to the popular social media site, Weibo, to put pressure on the government to release information on how the two travelled to Beijing, particularly if they used public transport.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that Chinese authorities have notified it about the cases of plague. 


Also read: To fight China monopoly, Modi govt to speed up approvals for 4 mega bulk drugs parks


What is the plague?

The plague is a disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, which is found in animals, particularly rodents. It can be transmitted to humans through infected animals and fleas.

In the Middle Ages (5th-15th century), plague was also known as the 'Black Death' as it was responsible for the deaths of millions of people in Europe. 

There are three types of plague: bubonic plague, pneumonic plague and septicemic plague. 

Bubonic plague: This infects a person's lymphatic system (which is a part of their immune system), causing inflammation in the lymph nodes. If left untreated, the bubonic plague can also convert into either pneumonic of septicemic plague. Its symptoms include fever, chills, weakness and headaches. 

Pneumonic plague: According to WHO, pneumonic plague is the 'most virulent form of plague' and can be  fatal within 24 to 72 hours. It occurs when the bacteria infects the lungs. It is the only type of plague that can be transmitted from human to human. Symptoms are chest pain, fever and cough. It is highly contagious and transmissible merely by coughing. 

Septicemic plague: This is when the bacteria enters the bloodstream and multiplies there. If left untreated, pneumonic and bubonic plague can lead to septicemic plague. A person infected by septicemic plague may also notice their skin turning black.

How to treat and control plague 

 Though reported cases are rare, there have been plague outbreaks as recently as 2014 in China, 2015 in the US and 2017 in Madagascar, where there were 2,417 reported cases and a death toll of 209.

The plague is a life-threatening disease but if caught early, can be treated with antibiotics. However, without prompt treatment, the disease can lead to serious illnesses and even death. At times, antibiotics alone are not enough additionally intravenous fluids and extra oxygen are required to treat a person. 

Since it is highly contagious, those who are infected with pneumonic plague are kept in isolation. And people in close contact with the person infected are given a dose of antibiotics as a preventive measure. 

 Other preventive measures to curb a plague outbreak are to keep the rodent population in control with pest control measures, ensuring that surrounding areas are clear of stacks of wood that rodents feed on among others. 

Plague vaccines are being developed but it is highly unlikely that they will be available in the near future.  


Also read: Major leprosy, malaria, cardiac drugs to go off shelves as firms want to end Indian supply 


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