Welcome to Death: Past and Present
   
DEADLY RODENTS
 
Yersinia pestis causes the bacterial disease known as plague. Wild rodents (especially ground squirrels and prairie dogs), cats, dogs, and rats are naturally where the plague starts. They become infected and may transmit the disease to people by fleas. Transmission by bites or scratches inflicted by diseased hosts, also by contacting the tissue of an infected animal.
 
DEATH ESCAPES NO ONE
Black Death (plague) occurs in places where infection of diseased animals are common. This includes undeveloped countries such as South America, parts of Africa, and South Asia. This infection is extremely rare in the United States. The small number of cases that were reported in the United States were limited to the Western States.
 
THE END
The name bubonic plague originated from the enlarged lymph glands also called boboes, and pneumonic plague from its pneumonia-like symptoms. Symptoms will appear two to seven days after being exposed to the bacteria. First noticable symptoms include fever, chills, muscle soreness, headaches, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and extreme fatigue. Both forms of plague are diagnosed by isolating the bacteria from sputum, blood, spinal fluid, or infected glands. It can be treated with certain antibiotics such as tetracycline, streptomycin, or chloramphenicol. This is a deadly disease if not treated. 50-60% of people diagnosed can die if untreated. Pneumonic plague is usually fatal if untreated. People diagnosed with pneumonic plague should be quarantined for the enirety of three days while antibiotic treatment is being administered.
 
Favourite links
 

CDC Plague Information Page.
Why Bubonic Plague is of concern in the USA and worldwide.


Plague and Public Health in Renaissance Europe
Primary Plague Resources


The Black Death
411 about Black Death

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