Question 1

what diseases of today might be compared to the bubonic plague?

Accepted Answer

Several: In a limited way, the SARS outbreak was psychologically similar to the black plague of long ago.  AIDS fits the mold best, however.  Both imparted the terror that such an outbreak needs to compare with plague.

Question 2

histology info. on the bubonic plague. what types of tissues are effected by the disease process. how does their structure change? how samples taken.

Accepted Answer

Allergy: Bubonic plague causes bacteremia, septicemia, and dic. All tissues can be involved, and bleeding can be seen in those tissues.  When it gets this far, it has about 90% mortality so most tissues are obtained at autopsy. Blood can be taken or as above and can be cultured.

Question 3

how is plague treated?

Accepted Answer

Antibiotics,hospital: Patients with suspected plague are put in strict isolation units and treatment is started with antibiotics such as gentamicin, streptomycin, doxycycline, tetracyline, Septra, (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) ciprofloxacin, or chloramphenicol. With treatment, the death rate drops from about 50% to about 15% (the majority of the cases are bubonic plague). Pneumonic plague is fatal if treatment is not started in 24 hours.

Question 4

how do people get plague?

Accepted Answer

Bites or sick people: The plague is usually bubonic (one catches it from being bit by infected fleas or rodents, and the bacteria infects one's lymph nodes) or pneumonic (one catches it by breathing infected moisture droplets exhaled, sneezed, or coughed out by an infected person or animal, and the bacteria infects one's lungs). Without treatment, pneumonic plague is fatal.

Question 5

how is plague transmitted?

Accepted Answer

Bites; air droplets: The plague is usually bubonic (one catches it from being bit by infected fleas or rodents, and the bacteria infects one's lymph nodes) or pneumonic (one catches it by breathing infected moisture droplets exhaled, sneezed, or coughed out by an infected person or animal, and the bacteria infects one's lungs). The chances of survival without treatment is about 50% for bubonic, and zero for pneumonic.

Question 6

where is plague most common?

Accepted Answer

Outside the U.S.: In the U.S., there are about 10-15 cases of plague reported each year. The cases are usually from Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. Throughout the world, there are 1000-3000 cases of plague reported each year, mainly from Africa, southern Asia, and South America (plus there are an unknown number of unreported cases).

Question 7

can i still catch the plague?

Accepted Answer

Yes; unlikely in US: In the U.S., there are about 10-15 cases of plague reported each year. The cases are usually from Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. Throughout the world, there are 1000-3000 cases of plague reported each year, mainly from Africa, southern Asia, and South America (plus there are an unknown number of unreported cases).

Question 8

what are the tests for plague?

Accepted Answer

Plague: The bacteria is easily cultured but in plague endemic areas bubonic disease with its extremely painful bubo (lymph node) is classic.

Question 9

what are the symptoms of plague?

Accepted Answer

Plague : Most cases are bubonic... fever and very painful bubo (lymph node).

Question 10

does anyone still get the plague?

Accepted Answer

Sure. : It exists in parts of africa and asia and in the southwestern and western parts of the usa.

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Bluebonnet plague disease

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What diseases of today might be compared to the bubonic plague?

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Histology info. on the bubonic plague. what types of tissues are effected by the disease process. how does their structure change? how samples taken.

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How is plague treated?

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How do people get plague?

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How is plague transmitted?

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Where is plague most common?

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Can i still catch the plague?

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What are the tests for plague?

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What are the symptoms of plague?

A member asked:

Does anyone still get the plague?

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