Bubonic plague: All you need to know

Bubonic plague: All you need to know

With the world trying to keep up with the coronavirus pandemic, China has issued an alert for bubonic plague after Bayannur in Northern China confirmed two cases of the same. With a risk of epidemic rising in the city, the public has been asked to maintain awareness and report any abnormality in health conditions. 

The officials have also instructed people to report any dead animals and to refrain from eating animals that could be carrying the bacteria.

What is the bubonic plague? 
Bubonic plague is essentially caused by Yersinia pestis, present in mammals and fleas. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the plague can be transmitted between animals, and also from animals to human. However, the chances of human-to-human transmission are rare. The human transmission of this plague only happens when infected fleas happen to bite a human, or by direct inhalation. 

Can people die of the bubonic plague? 
Although rare, this is a serious infection that can be fatal if untreated. WHO also stated that the fatality rate of the plague — especially septicaemic form cause form caused by the flow of bacteria in the bloodstream — is 30 to 100 per cent. 

What are some symptoms to look out for? 
There are two types of plague infections -- bubonic and pneumonic. For the people infected by this type of plague, the incubation period is about seven days. The symptoms may include a sudden fever, body ache, vomiting and a feeling of nausea. A bubonic plague infection is caused when the bacteria enters the lymphatic system, which is a part of the immune system in the body, and it replicates itself. 

Where did the plague originate from? 
Total 3,248 cases of plague have been reported globally, according to the data shared by WHO. These included including 584 deaths — between 2010 to 2015. In the past, bubonic plague epidemics have occurred in Africa, Asia and South America. Madagascar also reports bubonic plague every year between April to September. Considered as one of the biggest pandemics of the past, the bubonic plague, which is known as the 'black plague' has killed over 50 million people in Europe during the 14th century. Today, the plague is treatable; however, the risk of a large scale epidemic still looms over the world. 

Edited by: Suvajit Mustafi

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