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Download Pneumonic Plague Fact Sheet – Bacteria
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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. M:\HPROMO\Emergency Response communication and contact list\Fact Sheets\Plague Fact Sheet - simplified.doc