By: Andrea Robertson
Gram negative proteobacteria that causes
Bubonic Plague
Bubonic plague is a serious, life-threatening disease, which is transmitted to
humans when they are bit by an infected rat flea and causes death quickly. There
are more than 100 species of fleas that have been reported to naturally be infected
with the plague. Y. pestis is mostly found in rats but have also been found in other
wild animals such as prairie dogs.
The World Health Organization
reports 1-3,000 cases of plague
each year. 1 in 7 people die from
the disease. People under 20,
especially men are more likely to
get the plague.
Researches have found that the plague
causes more infections after warmer
spring months and wetter summer
months.
The first known pandemic was in
542AD and lasted about 60 years. This
outbreak killed millions of people and
most of the deaths were located in people
living along the Mediterranean Sea.
The second pandemic was in the 14th
century. This was believed to be the
worst outbreak of plague. It was known
as the Black Death. This pandemic was
located in central Aisa and lasted for
400 years. Villages were demolished
and about a third of the European
population died.
The third pandemic was in 1894 and
started in China and reached Canton
and Hong Kong. The plague started
spreading throughout the world and
killed millions.
Bubonic Plague is an
infection of the lymph
nodes in the Lymphatic
system which includes
the tonsils, adenoids,
spleen and thymus.
Glands that swell are called
buboes, which is how Bubonic
Plague got it’s name. Buboes
are found in the groin, armpit
or neck and most often will
occur close to the site of the
initial infection and become red
and swollen.
 Bubonic Plague is the most
common.
 Transmitted from the bite of
an infected flea or rodent.
Symptoms usually occur
within 3 to 7 days of exposure.
 Pain may occur before the
actual swelling begins.
If bacteria is left untreated it
can spread into the bloodstream
and symptoms of septicemic
plague may begin.
 More symptoms include:
chills, seizures and weakness.
 Transmission from a flea, rodent
 Infection in the
bite, or if bubonic plague is left
blood.
untreated.
 Symptoms include fever, chills,
abdominal pain, rapid heart rate,
vomiting, delirium, shock, and
bleeding into the skin or organs.
 Bacterium replicate
in the bloodstream.
 It can spread to other
organs including the
Fingers, toes, and the nose may
liver, kidneys, spleen
become gangrenous.
and lungs.
The “Black Death”
Symptoms of Septicemic
Plague
Person
A
Person
B
Pneumonic Plague is an infection of the
lungs and is the most serious of the three
plagues yet the least common. Yersinia
pestis infects a person’s lungs and leads to
pneumonia.
Infection happens if a person inhales the
plague bacteria from an infected person or
animal and is highly contagious.
 Symptoms usually occur 2
to 3 days after the exposure to
the airborne particles of the
bacteria.
 Death usually occurs within
2 to 6 days after symptoms
begin.
 Early treatment of
pneumonic plague is necessary
to reduce the chances of death.
 About 10% of people with
bubonic plague will get
pneumonic plague.
A diagnosis can be
made from samples of
blood, urine, sputum
and aspirates of lymph
nodes.
Blood
Under a microscope the
bacillus will look like a
safety pin.
Urine
Aspirates
A doctor will rule out any
other diseases that have
similar symptoms such as
Syphilis, Tularemia and
Shingellosis.
Chest X-rays and
antigen testing are
done.
Sputum
Medical professional
will listen to a person’s
lungs and examine the
skin.
Treatment for all three plagues is similar. A person
who has bubonic or septicemic plague needs to be
isolated and the local and state health departments
need to be notified. If a patient has pneumonic plague
they need to be isolated until sputum cultures come
back showing no infection.
Antibiotics need to be administered within 24 hours
intravenously for at least 10 days. The most common
antibiotic used to treat plague is Streptomycin.
Streptomycin is given as follows: 30mg/kg/day IM
in 2 divided doses for 10 days.
Alternative antibiotics such as Gentamicin,
Tetracycline, Chloramphenicol and
trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole are also effective.
People should avoid sick
or dead animals and
report such animals to a
local health department.
Antibiotics are suggested for
a person who has been in
contact with a person
infected with plague.
Treating pets (cats or
People who hunt should wear
protective gloves when skinning dogs) for fleas on a
regular basis.
animals.
People traveling to areas where plague has been a problem
should apply an insect repellent containing DEET ( a
versatile repellent that is used worldwide and repels
mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, biting fleas and chiggers.
Ring around the rosy,
Pocketful of posies,
Ashes! Ashes! We all fall
down!
The words to the ring around the rosy children’s
game have their origin in English history. The
historical period dates back to the Great Plague of
London in 1665. The symptoms of the plague
included a rosy red rash in the shape of a ring on
the skin (Ring around the rosy). Pockets and
pouches were filled with sweet smelling herbs (or
posies) which were carried due to the belief that the
disease was transmitted by bad smells. The term
“Ashes Ashes” refers to the cremation of the dead
bodies!
The End
Reference:
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