Bioterrorism

Plague

What is plague?

Plague is a serious infectious disease that is common in rodents but is also transmissible to humans through the bite of rodent fleas. Large worldwide epidemics have been recorded as early as the fourteenth century. Plague still occurs sporadically throughout the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers plague one of the four most likely pathogens to be used in biological warfare (a state in which infectious agents or toxic chemicals are being used as a weapon of mass destruction).

How is plague transmitted?

Plague is transmitted through fleas that have become infected with the Yersinia pestis bacteria from feeding on infected rodents such as chipmunks, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, mice, and other mammals. The disease is transmitted when an infected flea then feeds on humans. Plague is contagious in humans when an infected person has pneumonia and coughs infected saliva droplets in the air, which, in turn, are inhaled by a healthy person. The incubation period for plague is usually between two and six days following exposure to infected rodents or fleas.

What are the symptoms of plague?

The following are the most common symptoms of plague. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

swollen and tender lymph glands with pain (the swollen gland is also called a "bubo" which gave rise to the term "bubonic plague")

fever
chills
headache
extreme exhaustion

If left untreated, plague can enter the bloodstream and result in a severe and often fatal pneumonic (involving the respiratory system) form of the disease, with symptoms such as:

high fever
chills
cough
difficulty breathing
bloody sputum

The symptoms of plague may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

How is plague diagnosed?

Diagnosis of plague includes blood cultures to test for plague bacteria and microscopic examinations of the lymph glands, blood, and sputum samples.

Treatment for Plague:

Specific treatment for plague will be determined by your physician based on:

your age, overall health, and medical history
extent of the condition
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the condition
your opinion or preference

Treatment will include:

hospitalization
medical isolation
antibiotic treatment (i.e., streptomycin, gentamicin, tetracyclines, or chloramphenicol)

When left untreated, plague can result in rapid death. Approximately 14 percent of all plague cases in the U.S. each year are fatal. Always consult your physician for more information.

This page was last updated on: March 24, 2008.

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