Does the plague still occur?

Plague still occurs, but it is much rarer and more manageable today than in the past.Die Pest kommt immer noch vor, aber sie ist heute viel seltener und beherrschbarer als früher.

The plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and can occur in different forms: bubonic plague, pneumonic plague and septicemic plague. Modern antibiotics are effective in treating the disease, causing death rates to be significantly lower than during historical outbreaks.

The plague still occurs in parts of Africa, Asia and the United States. Some countries where sporadic cases are reported are Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Peru. The plague is usually transmitted through fleas infected by rodents, such as rats. It can also be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals or people, or by inhalation of infectious droplets in pneumonic plague.

Madagascar has had several outbreaks of plague in recent years. In 2017, there was a significant outbreak that affected hundreds of people. Although rare, several cases of plague are reported each year in western states of the USA such as New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. These cases are usually associated with wild rodents.

Modern antibiotics such as streptomycin, gentamicin and doxycycline are effective in treating plague if given early. Reducing exposure to fleas and controlling rodent populations are important preventative measures.

Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/plague

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/plague/about/index.html

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-08-01 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024