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West Virginia |
Public FAQ:
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West
Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Information for the
Public - Plague
What
is plague?
Plague is an infectious disease of animals and
humans caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. Widespread epidemics of
plague have had an enormous impact on human history: the first recorded
plague epidemic began in Egypt in 541 AD and spread throughout Africa,
Europe, and Asia killing approximately 50% of the population; the “Black
Death” or “Great Pestilence” that began in1346 was responsible for
approximately 50 million deaths in Africa, Asia, and Europe; and the 1855
epidemic that began in China ultimately killed over 12 million people in
India & China. Y. pestis is found naturally in rodents (rats, ground
squirrels, prairie dogs, and other rodents on every continent except
Australia) and their fleas. Plague may be transmitted to humans through
the bite of an infected flea. Use of plague as a biological weapon would
most likely be as an aerosol of the bacteria, entering the body through
the lungs, resulting in what is known as pneumonic plague. What
are the symptoms of pneumonic plague?
How
soon after exposure would symptoms begin?
Symptoms appear in approximately 2-4 days following
inhalation exposure to Y. pestis, but may appear from 1-6 days following
exposure. Can
pneumonic plague be spread person to person?
How
likely is it that I will be exposed to plague?
Use of plague as a
weapon is thought to be unlikely. What
could be done in the event of an intentional release of plague?
Early recognition by
physicians is key to managing cases of plague. Ill persons could be
treated and appropriately isolated to prevent further spread. Public
health officials, working rapidly, may be able to identify exposed persons
and recommend preventive antibiotics for those at risk.
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State
of West Virginia (WV) A-Z Listing of West Virginia's Reportable Diseases
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