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The pneumonic plague killed a US resident on Friday, marking the first fatality from the infection since 2007. The US officials said that the death of the Arizona resident was the first known incident in 18 years as the last death was reported in 2007, when a person had come in contact with an infected and subsequently died with the infection. The plague, known in the medieval times as ‘Black Death’ once wiped half of Europe, but is now treatable with antibiotics.
What Is Pneumonic Plague?
Caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium—a zoonotic bacteria usually found in small mammals and their fleas— the pneumonic plague is a severe and a contagious lung infection that develops when bacteria spread to the lungs of a patient with untreated bubonic or septicemic plague, or when a person inhales infectious droplets coughed out by another person or animal with pneumonic plague.
According to the World Health Organisation, “In humans, pneumonic plague is a very serious illness, especially in its septicaemic (a systemic infection brought on by bacteria in the bloodstream) and pneumonic forms, which have a 30% to 100% case-fatality ratio if treatment is not received. If treatment is delayed, the pneumonic form is always fatal. It spreads particularly easily and can start serious epidemics when people come into contact with each other through airborne droplets.”
Also Read: When a 'Cold' Isn't Just a Cold: Expert Shares Overlooked Risks of Untreated Respiratory Infections
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When Should You Consult A Doctor
The symptoms for the pneumonic plague include fever, headaches, cough, weakness, although these symptoms are common in nature and are associated with various diseases, in a pneumonic plague these exacerbate and progress rapidly and often become persistent. The incubation period is normally around a week, however, one may be able to recover within 24 hours, depending on one’s immune system and predisposition to other diseases.
Prevention
According to the World Health Organisation, people are advised to take precautions against flea bites, avoid handling animal carcasses, and be informed when zoonotic plague is present in their surroundings as part of preventive measures. It is generally recommended that people stay away from direct contact with bodily fluids and tissues that are infected. Standard precautions should be taken when handling potentially infected patients and collecting specimens.
Also Read: Fully Vaccinated, Still Infected: Dallas Woman Presents as First Case of Measles
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The History Of Black Death
Between 1346 and 1353, Europe experienced a pandemic of the bubonic plague known as the "Black Death." Up to 50 million people died, possibly half of Europe's population in the 14th century, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history. The bacterium Yersinia pestis was the cause of the illness, which was transmitted by fleas and the air. The Black Death, one of the most important historical occurrences in Europe, had profound effects on the population, the economy, and culture. The second plague pandemic started at that time. The outbreak caused economic, social, and religious upheavals that significantly influenced the development of European history.
Bottomline
Although one a deadly disease, the pneumonic plague today is rare and easily treatable with antibiotics. That doesn't mean one should take it lightly, as by now we know diseases evolve as well and in case, pneumonic plague is left untreated, it could be fatal, even today. And in order to prevent a large-scale outbreak in the future needs immediate diagnosis, isolating people who are infected and a vigilant surveillance from the authorities’ side.