Plague
Why in News?
A suspected pneumonic plague outbreak in Russia has triggered global health concerns following the sudden death of a 28-year-old laboratory researcher, Darya Shipilova, at a Siberian research facility Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute.
The Cause and Transmission
- The Pathogen: Plague is a severe infectious disease caused by the zoonotic bacterium Yersinia pestis.
- Natural Cycle: The bacteria primarily circulate among small rodents and are transmitted via infected flea bites.
- Human Contact: Humans contract it through flea bites, direct contact with contaminated animal tissue, or inhaling respiratory droplets from an infected person.
Three Main Types of Plague
The disease manifests differently depending on how the bacteria enter the body:
The disease manifests differently depending on how the bacteria enter the body:
- Bubonic Plague (Most Common): Contracted via flea bites. It infects the lymphatic system, causing excruciatingly painful, swollen lymph nodes known as "buboes" in the groin, armpits, or neck. It is generally not spread human-to-human.
- Pneumonic Plague (Most Dangerous): An advanced infection of the lungs. It is highly contagious and spreads directly between humans through coughing. If untreated, it has a near-100% fatality rate.
- Septicemic Plague: Occurs when the bacteria multiply rapidly in the bloodstream. It causes severe internal bleeding, organ failure, and gangrene (tissue death resulting in blackening of the fingers, toes, and lips).
General Symptoms
Symptoms manifest rapidly, usually within 1 to 7 days after exposure:
Symptoms manifest rapidly, usually within 1 to 7 days after exposure:
- Sudden onset of high fever and severe chills.
- Intense headaches, body aches, and profound weakness.
- Type-Specific: Coughing up bloody mucus and shortness of breath (Pneumonic); agonizingly swollen lumps (Bubonic); abdominal pain and spontaneous bleeding from the nose/mouth (Septicemic).
Treatment and Prevention
- Antibiotics: Modern plague is fully curable with standard antibiotics, but medical intervention must begin within 24 hours of the first symptoms to be effective.
- Prevention: There is no widely available public vaccine. Prevention relies on active rodent and flea control, avoiding contact with dead animals, and wearing protective gear if handling potentially infected wildlife.
