Recently, an outbreak of Bubonic Plague in China caused a wave of terror to spread across the world. Several jokes were passed on social media associating this outbreak with 2020 blues, but the fear and dread of facing a disease, especially one as deadly as this, amid the Covid 19 pandemic, left people feeling helpless. Although the spread of this disease was stopped before it could reach others, a question continued to remain in everyone’s head ; What is Bubonic Plague and why is it feared?
The Plague Doctor- An Omen of Illness and Death
Bubonic Plague is one of the three plagues caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It is mainly spread by infected fleas and small animals. It is also called the Black Death due to the blackening of swollen lymph nodes caused by the bacteria near its site of entry.
The bubonic plague is not new to us, although we are now aware of its cause and treatment. It is said to have originated in Mongolia. The first recorded pandemic affected the Sassanian Empire in the sixth century, and resulted in the deaths of 25-50 million people. It also resulted in the spreading of this disease to Asia, Greece and Italy. In 1347, Europe experienced the deadliest outbreak in history when this plague killed one third of its population. The plague resurfaced in the 19th century in the Yunnan Province of China, and spread to port cities throughout the world. In fact, this disease was used as biological warfare, and dead bodies riddled with the plague were planted in towns and villages.
Yersinia pestis is a gram negative, non motile coccobacilli. It infects humans through fleas, mainly the Oriental Rat Flea. It causes 3 forms of plague - Bubonic, Pneumonic, and Septicemic.
In the Bubonic form, the bacteria enters through the skin through a flea bite/body fluids and travels to the nearest lymph node, causing it to swell. These infected enlarged lymph nodes are called buboes.They reproduce and colonize in these nodes, and cause a variety of symptoms such as malaise (tiredness), fever with chills, seizures, cramps and gangrene. Patients vomit copious amounts of blood and are in extreme pain due to the decomposition of the skin while the person is still alive. If the disease is left unchecked, it may lead to delirium, coma and death.
Blackening and decaying of skin
The disease is diagnosed by studying serum samples, blood and buboes during early and late stages of infection. Antibiotics need to be given within 24 hours of the first symptom to prevent death, along with respiratory support and intravenous fluids.. The mortality rate in treated cases is 1-15%, whereas in untreated cases it is 40-60%.
This deadly disease is no longer fatal to many of us. It has a cure and can be treated successfully. We can avoid its spread by following a few simple rules.
Prevent pests like rats and squirrels from entering your house
Avoid touching dead animals, or wear gloves while handling them.
Use flea control sprays on your pets
Manasvi Balachandran
3rd Year CZM
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