A wave of concern has spread following the death of a female researcher due to pneumonia at an anti-plague laboratory in Russia. Consequently, nearly 200 people have been placed under medical observation and quarantine as a precaution. Officials noted that plague bacteria were not directly found in her body and her death was not officially attributed to the plague, but a large section of the lab where she worked has been isolated.
Following this incident, health experts have shed light on what plague is, how it transmits, and the level of threat it poses to humans. Dr. Subhash Giri, Director of the Medicine Department at RML Hospital in New Delhi, explained the critical aspects of the disease.
How Does Plague Spread and What Are the Risks?
According to experts, the plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia Pestis. This bacterium is typically found in fleas living on rodents and other small infected animals such as squirrels, prairie dogs, and guinea pigs. If an infected flea bites a human, it can transmit the disease. Consuming raw or undercooked meat from infected animals can also pose a risk.
Plague remains one of history's oldest and most devastating pandemics, having caused millions of deaths worldwide in the past.
Symptoms and Treatment
Plague manifests in different forms, with bubonic plague being the most common, causing painful swelling in the lymph nodes known as buboes. However, pneumonic plague is the most dangerous form as it directly affects the lungs, mimicking severe pneumonia symptoms which can be fatal without prompt treatment.
Medical experts emphasize that plague is fully treatable with antibiotics if detected in its early stages.
'The Freelance' independently verifies developing global news reports. This report is based on statements from medical experts and international news updates. Source: Media Reports / Medical Experts.
