An individual in Arizona has died from pneumonic plague, native well being officers said on Friday.
Pneumonic plague, which happens when the bacterium Yersinia pestis will get into an individual’s lungs, is each “the least widespread and most harmful sort of plague,” based on the Cleveland Clinic.
All three main varieties of the plague are uncommon within the modern-day. One sort, bubonic plague, was the principle reason behind the fourteenth century’s Black Death pandemic, which left a path of loss of life and devastation throughout Europe. Now, roughly 1,000 to 2,000 folks throughout the globe are identified with plague yearly, per the Cleveland Clinic. Solely round seven circumstances are reported within the U.S. annually.
It’s unclear when the individual in Arizona died, however the Coconino County well being division stated in a press launch that it acquired check outcomes Friday that confirmed the affected person had pneumonic plague.
Right here’s what to find out about pneumonic plague.
The place do most circumstances of plague occur, and who’s most susceptible to an infection?
Lately, plague has mostly been present in Africa, based on the World Health Organization. It stays endemic in some international locations, primarily the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Peru.
“Within the U.S., you’re extra prone to get plague in rural areas of western states,” based on the Cleveland Clinic. “You’re at larger danger should you work with animals in an space the place plague is discovered.”
How does pneumonic plague unfold?
Pneumonic plague is the one sort of plague that may be transmitted from individual to individual, based on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Particular person-to-person transmission can occur via coughing and sneezing, based on the Cleveland Clinic. However an individual might additionally get the illness after shut contact with an animal contaminated with it, or from micro organism transferring from one other a part of the physique to the lungs.
On the whole, plague usually spreads via bites from fleas that had bitten an animal contaminated with the micro organism.
In keeping with the CDC, U.S. officers haven’t documented person-to-person unfold of plague within the nation since 1924, however “there proceed to be uncommon circumstances of pneumonic plague amongst folks uncovered to sick cats.” Cats, the CDC stated on its web site, “are notably prone to plague and may be contaminated by consuming contaminated rodents.”
How can I defend myself towards it?
The Cleveland Clinic advises folks to reduce their danger of plague by avoiding flea bites and exercising warning round animals that might be contaminated with the micro organism. The clinic recommends taking actions together with carrying bug spray with DEET, carrying gloves when coping with animals that might be contaminated, and never permitting pets to wander round exterior if situated in an space that’s recognized to have plague.
A plague vaccine isn’t at the moment out there within the U.S., based on the CDC. Whereas scientists are engaged on growing such vaccines within the U.S., the CDC stated, they “usually are not anticipated to be commercially out there within the rapid future.”
Globally, the World Health Organization recommends vaccination towards plague just for high-risk teams, together with well being care employees and other people working in laboratories who’re in fixed hazard of publicity.
