Download Pneumonic Plague Fact Sheet – Bacteria

Pneumonic Plague Fact Sheet – Bacteria
What plague is: Plague is an infectious disease that affects animals and humans. It is caused by
bacteria found in rodents, such as prairie dogs, rats, and mice, and their fleas. Plague occurs in
many areas of the world, including the United States.
Plague bacteria are easily destroyed by sunlight and drying. They survive about one hour when
released into the air.
Forms of plague: There are three main forms of plague. They can occur separately or in
combination.
Pneumonic plague occurs when the plague bacteria infects the lungs. This type of
plague can spread from person to person through the air by coughing and sneezing. This
requires direct and close contact with an ill person. Transmission could also take place in a
bioterrorist attack if plague bacteria were released into the air.
Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague. This occurs when an infected flea
bites a person, or when materials contaminated with plague bacteria enter through a break in a
person’s skin. Patients develop swollen, tender lymph glands (called buboes) and fever,
headache, chills, and weakness. Bubonic plague does not spread from person to person.
However, if not treated, the bacteria can spread to the lungs and cause pneumonic plague.
Septicemic plague occurs when plague bacteria multiply in the blood. It can occur by
itself, or be a complication of pneumonic plague or bubonic plague. It is caused by the bite of an
infected flea, but buboes do not develop. Patients have fever, chills, abdominal pain, shock, and
bleeding into skin and other organs. Septicemic plague does not spread from person to person.
Signs and symptoms of plague: With pneumonic plague, the first signs of illness are fever,
headache, weakness, and rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain,
cough, and sometimes bloody or watery sputum. The pneumonia progresses for 2 to 4 days and
may cause respiratory failure and shock. Without early treatment, patients may die.
How pneumonic plague is treated:
• Early treatment of pneumonic plague is essential.
• Antibiotics must be given within 24 hours to reduce the chance of death. Streptomycin,
gentamicin, the tetracyclines, and fluoroquinolone are all effective against pneumonic
plague.
• Public health officials have large supplies of drugs needed in a bioterrorism attack.
These supplies can be sent anywhere in the U.S. within 12 hours.
• Antibiotic treatment for 7 days will protect people who have had direct, close contact
with infected patients.
• Wearing a close-fitting surgical mask also protects against infection.
• A plague vaccine in not currently available for use in the United States.
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