“The bubonic plague still exists — here's how you get it and how to treat it - Insider - INSIDER” plus 3 more

“The bubonic plague still exists — here's how you get it and how to treat it - Insider - INSIDER” plus 3 more

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• The bubonic plague still exists — here's how you get it and how to treat it - Insider - INSIDER
• What is bubonic plague? - BBC News
• A squirrel has tested positive for the bubonic plague in Colorado - CNBC
• Colorado reports first human plague case since 2015, but officials say there’s no increased risk to public - The Denver Post

The bubonic plague still exists — here's how you get it and how to treat it - Insider - INSIDER Posted: 30 Jul 2020 01:46 PM PDT  The bubonic plague is a deadly bacterial infection, caused by Yersinia pestis. In the 14th century, before treatment was available, bubonic plague killed 50 million people in Europe and became known as the "Black Death."  But in modern times, bubonic plague is rare affecting between 1 and 17 people per year in the United States.  Bubonic plague is still deadly if not treated, so it's important to seek medical aid immediately if you think you have it. Here's what you need to know about how to treat and prevent bubonic plague. How do you get bubonic plague? The bubonic plague has a frightening history, but there is little risk of it becoming a global threat, says Michael Head, PhD, a senior research fellow in Global Health at the University of Southampton. "There are a few hundred cases of plague globally each year, so the disease itself is relatively rare." It is found mainly in Africa, Asia, and South America. Countries with the most number of cases are usually Democratic Republic of Congo, Peru, and Madagascar. There are also occasional plague cases in the western United States mostly in two areas: the Southwest four corners region and the Northwest in California and Oregon. One reason bubonic plague is uncommon is that it is rarely transmitted between people. It's possible to pass it on through a cough, but the most common way to catch plague is through a bite from an infected flea or animal.  How does the bubonic plague affect your body? Bubonic plague targets your lymph nodes, which are located throughout your body. They are round clusters of immune cells that fight off invading microbes. When plague bacteria enter your system, they multiply inside the closest lymph node. This can cause swollen, painful lymph nodes, most often found in your groin, neck, or armpit. If you aren't treated for bubonic plague, the infection can spread through your whole body. In addition to swollen lymph nodes, other symptoms of bubonic plague include: Fever that comes on suddenly Chills Headache Weakness Nausea and vomiting If you catch bubonic plague, symptoms will take between one to seven days to show up after you are exposed. Symptoms will usually worsen rapidly, which is why it's important to seek treatment immediately. Other forms of plague  Depending on where the Y. pestis bacteria spreads in your body, you can develop two additional forms of plague: Pneumonic plague occurs when Y. pestis spreads to your lungs. This condition is extremely dangerous and infected people can die within 18-24 hours of being exposed to the bacteria if they are not quickly treated with antibiotics. Septicemic plague is caused by plague bacteria spreading through your bloodstream. This form of plague can cause other troubling symptoms — your skin and other tissue can turn black and die, particularly on your nose, fingers, and toes. You may also bleed out of your mouth, nose, or anus. Treatment and prevention of the bubonic plague To diagnose bubonic plague, your doctor will test your blood, mucus, or pus from swollen lymph nodes to look for the Y. pestis bacteria. If you test positive for bubonic plague, "immediate treatment is essential," Head says.  "If untreated, bubonic plague has a mortality rate of around 50%," Head says. If you get treated with antibiotics, the death rate drops to about 11%. Doctors will usually give antibiotics like streptomycin, gentamicin, doxycycline, or ciprofloxacin to treat bubonic plague. You may also need to get intravenous fluids and oxygen to help your body through the treatment process. If you are traveling to a region with a higher plague risk, it may help to take precautions against flea bites. Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants to protect your skin and use a DEET-based bug spray to repel fleas. You should also stay away from any animals you suspect may have fleas. The bottom line Most people have a very low risk of getting bubonic plague. If you are visiting a country known to have above-average cases of bubonic plague, make sure you are aware of plague signs and symptoms. If you think you may have bubonic plague, get medical help immediately.

What is bubonic plague? - BBC News Posted: 06 Jul 2020 12:00 AM PDT Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Plague doctors wore a distinctive costume - the beak mask held dried flowers and reduced the effect of bad smells for the medic A suspected case of bubonic plague has been reported to Chinese authorities. It is not known how the patient became infected, but the country is on alert for more cases. Plague is one of the deadliest diseases in human history - but it can now be easily treated with antibiotics. What is bubonic plague? Plague is a potentially lethal infectious disease that is caused by bacteria called Yersinia pestis that live in some animals - mainly rodents - and their fleas. Bubonic plague is the most common form of the disease that people can get. The name comes from the symptoms it causes - painful, swollen lymph nodes or 'buboes' in the groin or armpit. From 2010 to 2015 there were 3,248 cases reported worldwide, including 584 deaths. Historically, it has also been called the Black Death, in reference to the gangrenous blackening and death of body parts, such as the fingers and toes, that can happen with the illness. What does it do? A person usually becomes ill with bubonic plague between two and six days after being infected. Along with the tender, enlarged lymph nodes, that can be as large as a chicken egg, other symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and tiredness. Plague can also affect the lungs, causing a cough, chest pain and difficulty breathing. The bacteria can also enter the bloodstream and cause a condition called septicaemia or sepsis, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. How can you catch it? People can catch it from: Bites of infected fleas Touching infected animals such as rats and mice Inhaling infected respiratory droplets spread by infected people or animals Domestic cats and dogs can become infected from flea bites or from eating infected rodents. The infection could also enter the body through a cut in the skin if the person came in close contact with an infected animal's blood. The current alert in China forbids the hunting and eating of animals that could carry plague. The body of someone who has died after being infected with plague can infect people who are in close contact, such as those who are preparing the body for burial. Is there a treatment or a cure for it? Prompt treatment with antibiotics is vital. The disease is often lethal if left. Early diagnosis, using laboratory tests on blood and other body samples, can save lives. Could there be a new outbreak or pandemic? Plague still exists in many parts of the world. In recent years there have been outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar. Although plague has been the cause of widespread disease outbreaks in medieval times, any outbreaks today are thankfully small. Dr Matthew Dryden, consultant microbiologist at the University of Southampton in the UK, said: "It is good that this has been picked up and reported at an early stage because it can be isolated, treated and spread prevented. "Bubonic plague is caused by a bacterium and so, unlike Covid-19, is readily treated with antibiotics. So although this might appear alarming, being another major infectious disease emerging from the East, it appears to be a single suspected case which can be readily treated."

A squirrel has tested positive for the bubonic plague in Colorado - CNBC Posted: 14 Jul 2020 12:00 AM PDT File photo of a squirrel looks out from a tree. Matt Jonas | MediaNews Group | Boulder Daily Camera | Getty Images A squirrel in Colorado has tested positive for the bubonic plague, also known as the "Black Death," according to local health authorities.  The squirrel was found in a town in Jefferson County, which is west of Denver, and is the first case in the region, health authorities said in a statement released Sunday.  The case comes about a week after authorities in a city in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia issued a warning after a hospital reported a case of suspected bubonic plague in a human. There were at least four reported cases of plague in people from Inner Mongolia late last year, according to The New York Times. Two of them were pneumonic plague, a deadlier variant of plague. The bubonic plague, infamous for killing millions of people in Europe during the Middle Ages, is an often fatal disease caused by bacteria. Humans usually get plague after being bitten by a rodent flea that is carrying the plague bacterium or by handling an animal infected with plague, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms may include high fever, chills, headache, nausea and extreme pain and swelling of lymph nodes. The disease can cause serious illness or death without proper treatment, according to the CDC. Antibiotics are effective in treating it.  Plague is found on most continents but most human cases since the 1990s have occurred in Africa, according to the World Health Organization. Local authorities in Colorado are asking residents to take precautions, including avoiding contact with sick or dead wild animals and rodents and keeping pets from roaming freely outside. Cats are highly susceptible to plague and may die if not treated promptly with antibiotics, they said.  The new case comes as the world continues to fight Covid-19, another serious disease that emerged six months ago. As of Tuesday, the virus has infected more than 13 million people worldwide and killed at least 573,200, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.  Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, has compared it to the 1918 pandemic flu, which killed around 50 million people, according to the CDC.

Colorado reports first human plague case since 2015, but officials say there’s no increased risk to public - The Denver Post Posted: 16 Jul 2020 12:00 AM PDT A southwest Colorado resident was infected with plague after exposure to sick squirrels earlier this summer, the first confirmed case of the disease in humans in the state since 2015. But health officials emphasized that the public only needs to take normal precautions. Plague, a bacterial disease that's typically carried by fleas but also can spread through respiratory droplets, has been in Colorado since the 1940s, said Dr. Jennifer House, state public health veterinarian for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Infected wild animals have been found in Jefferson, Adams and Broomfield counties this year, though the disease can circulate in rodent communities around the state. "While we see most plague activity during the summer, the disease can be found in rodents year-round and sometimes spills over into other wildlife species as well as domestic cats and dogs," she said. While the disease can be deadly if left untreated, most people recover with prompt antibiotic treatment. There have been 21 human cases in Colorado since 2005. The person infected this summer contracted septicemic plague, a form of the disease that doesn't spread easily, and no other cases have been found. He or she has since recovered. All Colorado residents should avoid handling wildlife, especially squirrels, prairie dogs, rabbits and other rodents. Domestic animals like cats and dogs also can catch plague from infected wildlife, so the health department advises not allowing pets to roam or to hunt rodents. Other precautions include: Treating pets for fleas according to a veterinarian's advice Not feeding wildlife, which brings them into closer contact with people and pets Keeping an eye on rodent populations around you. If you notice multiple dead animals, call your local health department. Don't touch or move dead wildlife Symptoms of plague include a sudden fever, headache, chills, weakness and pain or swelling in the lymph nodes. If you think you, another person or a pet could have been exposed, call a doctor immediately.

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