By Mayo Clinic staff
Plague is a life-threatening infection caused by the organism Yersinia pestis. There are three types of plague. Bubonic plague is the most common type in humans. Infected fleas transmit Y. pestis primarily among rodents. When an outbreak kills many rodents, infected fleas can jump to other animals and humans, spreading the infection. Improved living conditions and health services have made human outbreaks uncommon, but occasional plague cases occur.
Concern exists about the use of plague as a biological weapon. Plague bacteria could be put into a form that might be sprayed through the air, infecting anyone inhaling it and causing pneumonic plague. This form affects your lungs and can spread from person to person.
Fortunately, when given promptly, antibiotics usually effectively treat plague.
Interesting they say can be SPRAYED!
According to detailed research, there are several compounding factors with Y. Pestis: Much research has been carried out on the weaponization of Y. Pestis, creating a antibiotic resistant strain, which apparently does exist.
ReplyDeleteAnother compounding factor is that even treating the airborne infection (pneumonic plague) of naturally occurring Y. Pestis requires the initiation of strong antibiotics (Ciprofolaxin preferably, or Doxycycline secondarily) within the first 24 hours of infection in order to have optimum results.
Unfortunately, the lab test required to identify the pathogen takes 24-48 hours. In such case the affected person has, in all probability, gone beyond the effective treatment window prior to identification.