After a shady set of test outcome triggered an probe last workweek , public health functionary in Pueblo County , Colorado , have now confirmed a case of plague in a local resident .
Plague is a bacterial infection that ’s well known for decimating Europe ’s population in the mid-14thcentury , with what came to be known as “ The Black Death ” becoming one of the deadliest pandemic in human history .
But as this latest case will severalise you , plague has n’t been consigned to the history books . Yersinia pestis , the bacteria that causes the disease , naturally circulates in many parts of the worldly concern in rodent , other modest fauna , and flea .
That means that , on rarefied occasions , plague can stop up in humans too . An norm of seven case are reportedin the USeach year , with most of them being the bubonic flesh – the one with the characteristic swollen , pus - fill lymph nodes . Most cases are find in a area cover northerly New Mexico , northerly Arizona , and southerly Colorado , and another with California , southerly Oregon , and western Nevada .
While the source of the Colorado grammatical case is still being investigated , human sheath of plague are typically the resolution of being bitten by an infected flea or handling an infected animal . For example , originally this yr , the first casing ofhuman plague in Oregonin eight years was find to in all probability be the resultant role of an septic preferred big cat .
With that in nous , Pueblo County ’s Department of Public Health and Environment ( PDPHE ) has asked the public to take a issue of precautions , including :
If people do explicate symptoms , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC)recommendsseeking aesculapian attention immediately due to the distressfulness of the disease . The main symptoms to look out for with bubonic pestilence are a sudden pyrexia , chills , headache , weakness , and self-conceited , painful lymph thickening .
These symptoms can bring home the bacon healthcare professionals with an indication that plague is present , and thediagnosiscan be sustain by science laboratory tests that practice samples taken from the swollen lymph node or blood .
Though a serious unwellness , pestis is gratefully treatable .
“ Plague can be treated successfully with antibiotic , but an septic person must be treated quickly to avoid serious complications or death , ” say Alicia Solis , platform manager of the Office of Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness at PDPHE , in astatement .
