3. The world health
organization reports 3000
cases of plague each year .
1 in 7 people die from the
disease . people under 20 ,
especially men are more
likely to get the plague .
Global Significance
Researches have found that
the plague causes more
infections after warmer
spring months and wetter
summer months .
4. The first known pandemic was in
542AD and lasted about60 years.
This outbreak killed millions of
people and most of the deaths were
located in people living along the
MediterraneanSea.
The third pandemic was in 1894 and
started in China and reached Canton
and Hong Kong.
The second pandemic was in the
14th century. This was believed to
be the worst outbreak of plague. It
was known as the Black Death. This
pandemic was located in central
Asia and lasted for 400 years.
Villages were demolished and
about a third of the European
populationdied.
5. Bubonic plague
Bubonic Plague is an infection
of the lymph nodes in the
Lymphatic system which
includes the tonsils, adenoids,
spleen and thymus.
Glands that swell are called
buboes, which is how Bubonic
Plague got it's name. Buboes
are found in the groin, armpit
or neck and most often will
occur close to the site of the
initial infection.
6. > Bubonic Plague is the most
common.
> Transmitted from the bite of
an infected flea or rodent.
> Symptoms usually occur within 3 to 7 days of exposure.
> Pain may occur before the actual swelling begins.
> If bacteria is left untreated it can spread into the
bloodstream and symptoms of septicemic plague may begin.
7. Septicemic Plague
> Transmission from a flea, rodent bite, or if bubonic plague is
left untreated.
> Symptoms include fever, chills, abdominal pain, rapid heart
rate, vomiting, delirium, shock, and bleeding into the skin or
organs.
> Infection in the blood.
> Bacterium replicate in the bloodstream.
> It can spread to other organs.
8. Pneumonic Plague is an
infection of the lungs and is
the most serious of the
three plagues yet the least
common. Yersinia pestis
infects a person's lungs
and leads to pneumonia.
Infection happens if a person inhales the plague
bacteria from an infected person or animal and is
highly contagious.
9. >Death usually occurs
within 2 to 6 days after
symptoms begin.
>Early treatment of
pneumonic plague is
necessary to reduce the
chances of death.
>Symptoms usually occur
2 to 3 days after the
exposure to the airborne
particles of the bacteria.
>About 10% of people with
bubonic plague will get
pneumonic plague.
10. Diagnosing plague
> A diagnosis can be made from samples of blood,
urine, sputum and aspirates of lymph nodes.
> Chest X-rays and antigen testing are done.
Under a microscope the bacillus will look like a
safety pin.
> A doctor will rule out any other diseases that
have similar symptoms such as Syphilis,
Tularemia and Shinaellosis.
> Medical professional will listen to a person's
lungs and examine the skin.
11. Prevention
> People should avoid sick or dead animals and report such
animals to a local health department. People who hunt
should wear protective gloves when skinning animals.
> Antibiotics are suggested for a person who has been in
contact with a person infected with plague. Treating pets
(cats or dogs) for fleas on a regular basis.
> People traveling to areas where plague has been a problem
should apply an insect repellent containing DEET
(a versatile repellent that is used worldwide and repels).
12. Treatment
Treatment for all three plagues is similar. A person who
has bubonic or septicemic plague needs to be isolated
and the local and state health departments need to be
notified. If a patient has pneumonic plague they need to
be isolated until sputum cultures come back showing
no infection. Antibiotics need to be administered within
24 hours intravenously for at least 10 days. The most
common antibiotic used to treat plague is
Streptomycin. Streptomycin is given as follows:
30mg/kg/day IM in 2 divided doses for 10 days.
Alternative antibiotics such as Gentamicin,
Tetracycline, Chloramphenicol and
trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole are also.
