Bubonic Plague (Black Death): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Context: 

Recently, A confirmed case of Bubonic plague was reported in Oregon, USA.

About Bubonic Plague

• It is a severe bacterial infection caused by a Yersinia pestis, a Zoonotic bacteria (that can spread between animals & people) which is usually found in small mammals and their fleas.
• Name Derived – from the Swollen lymph nodes (buboes), that it induces.
• Ways of Transmission (According to  WHO): 
  • The Bite of infected Vector Fleas, 
  • Unprotected Contact with infectious bodily fluids or contaminated materials (like bitten by an infected rat) and 
  • The Inhalation of Respiratory droplets/small particles from patients with pneumonic plague.
• Incubation Period: 2  to 8 days.
• Symptoms: 
• • Swollen lumps in the lymph nodes.
• Birth to Other Serious Diseases: Respiratory Failure, Gangrene, Meningitis, Sepsis
• Fatality Rate: 30% to 60%
• Treatment: 
  • It can be effectively treated and cured using antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, Gentamicin, and Doxycycline. 
  • Without treatment, it can result in fatality.
• Current Endemic Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and Peru.

Current Status of Bubonic Plague

• Worldwide Cases: The WHO reports between 1,000 to 2,000 cases of plague annually. 
• Global Distribution: Cases in Africa, Asia, South America, and certain regions of North America. However, since the 1990s, most cases have been reported in Africa.

Deadliest Plagues in History

• The Plague of Justinian (541-542): Originating in the Byzantine Empire, this pandemic persisted in waves until the middle of the 8th century. 
• The Black Death (1346-1353): This devastating pandemic claimed the lives of at least one-third of Europe’s population, recurring until the 19th century. 
• The Third Plague Pandemic (1855 onwards): Originating in Yunnan, China, this bubonic plague pandemic spread globally, resulting in over 12 million deaths in India and China alone.

Also Read: 

• World’s First Vaccine For Chikungunya Approved
• GEMCOVACOM: India’s First MRNA Vaccine
• First Human Trials For Nipah Virus Vaccine
• India’s First Indigenously Developed Hepatitis A Vaccine

News Source: Indian Express

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