Bubonic Plague

Four people were diagnosed with symptoms of the bubonic plague and treated in Colorado, US recently. It hit the headlines around the world and caused panic all over. A 38 years old Chinese farmer died of bubonic plague in July 2014. A single plague death sealed the northwestern part of the city. The authorities put the Chinese city of Yumen under quarantine and more than 30,000 people were confined to their neighborhoods.
Why so much alarm? Is it a serious illness? Yes, it can be a very serious illness. The affected person can die within 24 hours of developing early symptoms of plague.  It can spread like fire and affect the entire population of a city or region. 

What is bubonic plague? 

Plague is a bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis. There are three forms of plague. 
1. Bubonic plague. 
2. Pneumonic plague. 
3. Septicemia plague. 
Bubonic plague develops in the lymph nodes and is less contagious and virulent than other forms of plague. 

Transmission of bubonic plague

We often see rodents such as rats in houses, especially houses in rural and semi rural areas.  Where there are rats, there are rodent fleas as well. So, do rats spread this disease? Yes, rats host the bacteria and fleas that carry this disease. Fleas can infest humans being when they do not find any other host.

Symptoms of Bubonic plague

Symptoms appear within 2-5 days after exposure. Infected patients develop sudden fever with chills, headache, weakness, and confusion. The most common sign is swollen, tender and painful lymph nodes called as Buboes.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of plague can be made by blood tests and affected lymph node fluid test. A health provider aspirates the fluid from lymph node and sends it for culture. 

Treatment

Although a milder form of plague, nearly half of all people with bubonic plague die without treatment. They need immediate treatment with antibiotics like Streptomycin, Gentamycin, and Doxycyclin. If the patient is not treated with the appropriate antibiotics, the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body and lead to pneumonic plague or systemic plague.

Prevention
1. Take rodent control measures such as removing possible rodent food like pet food.
2. People who handle infected animals should wear gloves.
3. When exposed to infected animals, apply repellents like DEET or Permethrin.
4. Keep fleas away from your pets by applying flea control products.
5. Plague is also preventable with prophylactic antibiotics.