“The bubonic plague: It’s still with us”
Recently on September 6, a young child named Sierra Downing was diagnosed with a condition similar to influenza. When she was admitted, a persistent doctor discovered that she was suffering from bubonic plague. At first, it was assumed that she had been bitten by an insect but was later confirmed as bubonic plague. Her case was the first report of plague in Colorado in more than six years. The Downing case becomes the fourth report of plague in the USA in a year. Reports given by the head of the CDC, Kiersten Kugeler commented that, over a period of ten years, five cases have been reported each year.
Kugeler also described bubonic plague as a disease that is spread by small rodents and the fleas that live on their bodies. The disease is bacterial in nature and is caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis that makes it highly contagious as, without proper containment, it can kill an infected human within four days. Common symptoms of bubonic plague include swollen lymph nodes around the groin and armpits. Apart from the swollen lymph nodes, the infection of the glands with a condition called lymphadenitis also occurs. The nymph glands become inflamed and tender. The inflammations form after the bacteria localize themselves in an inflamed lymph node where they inhabit and duplicate. Other strains of plague such as septicemic and pneumonic plague are also similarly fatal. This was experienced in the Black Death in the 14th century that killed over 25 million people, which was about 50% of the population in Europe.
The CDC officer stated that even though the plague was extremely contagious and deadly, it was also exceptionally rare so people should not be scared of a future outbreak. She added that many more cases had occurred in the early 1980s. However, the reduction in the number of smallpox outbreaks can be attributed to the increased sanitation levels and the change in climatic conditions. An infection of plague that was caught by an Oregon patient who had to have his fingers amputated because of the extent of the infection. This patient contracted the disease after getting a bite from the family cat.
Patients who are diagnosed with the plague often recover after undergoing antibiotic therapy. However, the effectiveness of this form of treatment is high when it is applied early. The last case of death arising from plague in the United States in 2009 occurred because the disease was not recognized early. Other sources of fleas that transmit the bacterium Yersinia pestis include rodents, pets and rabbits that would explain why so many people contract the disease at home. The main obstacle to treatment is that many medical practitioners cannot identify the indications that include inflamed lymph nodes similar to those of the plague. Sierra Downing had tender and swollen lymph nodes, low blood pressure and a high pulse rate.
Sierra was expected to make a full recovery thanks to the effort of a resolute emergency room doctor. However, she would have died if the diagnosis had been made any later. Kugeler stated that plague could be contracted anywhere in the western part of the United States. She also stated that ever since the plague was introduced in the continent in 1900, it failed to pass the plague line. She described this phenomenon as being the longitudinal line that falls roughly along the 100th meridian that stretches from Texas to North Dakota. This could be pinned on changes in the environment, the humidity, temperature, and the altitude, all factors that collectively worked together to promote the growth and survival of the fleas that transmit the bacterium (Reinberg 7).
Kugeler proposed that the best way to mitigate the spread of plague and diseases that are spread in a similar way by rodents, would be to remove their habitats and other locations where rodents would be comfortable living in such as woodpiles. Offering protection from ticks, lice, and fleas was also another proposal made by Kugeler. The plague cannot spread easily between human beings and in such cases, this only happens when he bacteria have traveled to the lungs of the patient and can spread through the air. In such circumstances, those who had contact with the plague patient also lived for an extended time before they died. The last instance of such a person-to-person transmission of plague was reported in 1920.
Kugeler commented that the Black Death of 14th century was the most disastrous outbreak of plague to be recorded in Europe, and no other similar incident of the same magnitude could ever be reported again. Her sentiments were echoed by Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate lecturer of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, who stated clearly that certain public measures were in place in order to thwart the potential epidemic of the plague. Dr. Siegel also stated that effective treatment has been developed that incorporated antibiotics and other treatment methods. The article was highly relevant to the class lessons that we passed through earlier. Bubonic plague was discussed by the biology instructor who elaborated on the impact of the bacterium on the health of individuals (Cunningham 13).
The class also comprised of different treatment methods most of which were replicated in the article that I summarized later. The article also had more information on how to mitigate the spread of plague and eliminate the location where carriers of the fleas could be residing. Bubonic plague has been recorded as one of the worst epidemics in the history of man. Presently, plague is mostly recorded in Africa and parts of Asia. This is because these areas have low standards of sanitation, poor health facilities, and under qualified and understaffed medical facilities. These factors have been reduced or entirely eradicated in developed countries. The level of severity of bubonic plague can be compared to malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS although it can be managed significantly.
Work Cited
Cunningham, Kevin. The Bubonic Plague. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub. Co, 2011. Print.
Reinberg Steven. The bubonic plague: It’s still with us. News channel 5. Accessed on 21 September 2012. Retrieved from http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19482703/the-bubonic-plague-its-still-with-us
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