Bubonic Plague

When most people hear the words "bubonic plague" they think about the pandemic that occurred in Europe centuries ago that killed approximately 1/2 of the world's population. It is an illness caused by bacteria, specifically Y pestis. It is spread through rodents and to the human population by fleas. Rats are often blamed for the outbreak that spread through Europe, but it can be spread by any type of wild rodents. One of the reasons it was so prevalent and deadly in earlier centuries was due to the lack of medical care and knowledge that we possess today. But that doesn't mean it still can't be deadly in modern times.

Recently scientists have used DNA taken from victims who succumbed to the pandemic centuries ago. They warned that what happened in earlier times could easily happen again. This may occur due to mutations in the strains that have the capacity to become resistant to anti-biotic treatment. Right now, those strains don't exist and the illness can be treated with antibiotics. But if the mutations do occur, death can occur very quickly and the disease can be spread with alarming intensity and speed, particularly in highly populated areas.

Although a possible outbreak is unlikely, scientists say that paying attention to the rodent population is one way to predict and possibly prevent a possible occurrence. For example, if rodents in a particular part of the world start to die off very quickly, scientists will need to monitor the situation. Researchers warn that although we live in an age of great medical technology, we are still at risk of catching numerous diseases from animals.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), symptoms appear seven to ten days following infection. The most telling sign is the swelling of a lymph node, particularly near the site of a flea bite. These swellings are called bubos. They are very painful to the touch. Unfortunately, if the bacteria makes its way into the lungs it leads to another serious disease called pneumonic plague. This is also very easily transmitted through humans, usually from the saliva and droplets released by the infected person as they cough. This strain is very difficult to treat, many don't survive the illness unless they are treated very early - and even then there's no guarantee.