Burnout and heart disease have become more common topics in health magazines. In the middle of the 1300s, the Black Death ravaged Europe and Asia. In 1347 12 ships docked in the Sicilian Port of Messina. When people gathered to inspect the ships, the majority of sailors were dead.
The dead were covered with black boils containing blood and pus. Around 25 million people died in the pandemic. The disease was thought to have originated in China and spread by trading routes.
The so-called Black Death was only one outbreak of what is now called the plague. The plague is one of history’s deadliest diseases, with millions of deaths in three outbreaks.
Outbreaks of the Known Plague
Around 524 A.D., the Plague Justinian, also known as the Plague in Istanbul, Turkey began to spread through Constantinople. The plague was named Justinian I, the emperor of that time. The outbreak killed 10,000 people per day in Constantinople at its peak. Around 700 A.D., the outbreak subsided after spreading across the Mediterranean.
The Black Death is next. The disease, which swept across Europe and Asia for centuries, killed at least a third of Europe’s populace. In order to combat the spread of diseases, social isolation and distancing was implemented. The quarantine period was 40 days for sailors. Recurrences occurred in 1361-63, 1369-71; 1374-75; 1390 and 1400.
Around 1860, the third outbreak or Modern Plague as it is sometimes called, began in China. Estimates suggest that 12 million people died as a result of the outbreak. Steamships brought the plague to North America at the beginning of 1900. Travelers from trade conflicts and political conflict contributed to the rapid spreading of the disease. The outbreak ended officially around 1960.
Modern Plague was the first to discover the cause of the disease. Alexandre Yersin, during the third outbreak of Hong Kong in 1894, discovered the rod-shaped bacteria Yersinia Pestis. They also pinpointed the transmission method.
Breaking down the Plague
The bacteria that cause the plague are well understood. Back then, our ancestors didn’t have all the information or tools they needed to fight the plague that was responsible for the millions of deaths. Science has advanced, and in particular Microbiology. This knowledge about the plague, as well as how to combat it, is now available.
Yersinia is a virulent bacterial organism that causes disease. Yersinia is mainly found in small rodents, which are mostly found in rural and semi-rural areas. Fleas feed on rodents infected with the bacteria. They are the primary vector, which is an agent that transmits or carries the disease. Flea bites can transmit the bacteria to humans. Infected rodents can also infect humans. When the blood of an infected pet comes into contact with a skin break or opening, bacteria can enter your body. Infected rodents and fleas can also infect domesticated cats and dog. Transmission from human to human is also possible.
The three types of plague are based on the part of the body that is affected. Bubonic, pneumonic and septicemic plague are the three types. The signs and symptoms of each type of plague are different.
It is called bubonic or bubo plague. The buboes, or swollen lymph nodes that cause pain and swelling are the name of this plague. The buboes can be found in the armpit, groin or neck. They are about the size of an egg. The symptoms begin one to six day after the infection. Other symptoms and signs include sudden fever, chills, headaches, muscle pain, and fatigue. Bacteria can spread from one part of the body to another if not treated.
Septicemic plague is a more deadly form. When the blood has already been infected. Bacteria multiply in the bloodstream. The most obvious sign is gangrene. This is the blackening and death of tissues in the extremities, such as the toes and fingers, or nose. Other symptoms and signs include vomiting, severe abdominal pain, bleeding from the nose, mouth or rectum.
The pneumonic plague is the least common form of plague. The pneumonic plague is the least common type of plague. It can be spread from person to person by coughing droplets. Pneumonic plague is a disease that progresses quickly. Within two days after infection, respiratory failure may occur. Other symptoms are nausea, vomiting and difficulty breathing.
Untreated pneumonic and septicemic plagues kill 100 percent of the infected people. Bubonic plague is fatal to 50% of the infected.
Present Day Situation
No licensed vaccine is available for humans against the plague. FDA is currently testing several vaccines. Rapid diagnosis is crucial in the fight against plague. If you live in an area where plague has been confirmed and have plague symptoms, it is important to get tested immediately. Antibiotics are effective in treating plague patients. There are several antibiotics available for treating plague patients. Antibiotic treatment usually results in a recovery of 2 to 3 weeks for most people.
The plague is not as active today as other well-known infectious diseases, such AIDS and Malaria. It is unlikely that you will get the plague. The likelihood of getting the plague can increase depending on where you live. Most cases of plague have been reported in Africa since the 1990s. In 2017, there were around 2,300 cases of plague in Madagascar, with 202 deaths.
The plague is still a Category A pathogen, or biological agents with the highest threat to national security and public safety. Anthrax, as well as smallpox, are classified under Category A pathogens. These pathogens are easily transmitted and can cause high mortality rates. These pathogens are also capable of being used as biological weapons.
As long as the plague is still present in rodents, future outbreaks can still occur. These hosts also have a large geographical range.