Severe infection caused by the same black plague bacteria again draws attention after death confirmed in Arizona
Last Friday (11), the Sanitary Authorities of Arizona in the United States confirmed the death of a resident for pneumonic plague, a rare but severe infection caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis – The same responsible for the black plague, considered the largest pandemic in history. In the Middle Ages, the disease killed about one third of the European population.
Rare cases, but monitored in Brazil and worldwide
In the United States, it is a rare infection that, according to the Disease Prevention and Control Center (CDC), affects about seven people a year. In Brazil, the last case was registered in 2005, in the municipality of Pedra Branca, Ceará. Currently, there are two areas classified as natural outbreaks of the disease: one in the Northeast (Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Bahia) and another in Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro.
What is black plague and how to relate to pneumonic plague?
The so -called black plague refers to the bubonic form of the infection, which gained this name due to the dark bubbles that appeared on the skin. Bubonic plague is a zoonosis – that is, an infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans. The bacteria Yersinia pestis It remains in the environment through a cycle that involves contaminated soil, rodents (excavators and non -excavators), with different levels of susceptibility, and fleas associated with these animals.
Transmission to humans may occur through contaminated (most commonly) flea bites, scratches or bites of infected cats, contact with contaminated animals, inhalation of respiratory secretions, droplets of infected humans, intake of poorly cooked foods or laboratory exposure.
The three main forms of the plague
- Bubonic plague: represents 80 to 95% of cases. After an incubation period of 2 to 6 days, symptoms appear suddenly with fever, chills, weakness and headache, followed by pain and swelling in the lymph nodes, especially in the inguinal region. Without treatment, it can evolve into disseminated infection in up to 50% of cases.
- Over septicêmic: It usually occurs as a complication of unreated bubonic shape. Patients have severe condition, with lethality between 30% and 100%.
- Over the pneumônica: It is the fastest fatal form of the disease. It may arise primarily (by inhalation of contaminated droplets) or secondary (by the spread of infection to the lungs). Without immediate treatment, the mortality rate can reach 100%.
Treatment and prevention are fundamental
The plague has a cure when treated early with antibiotics. The ideal is to start treatment in the first 24 hours after the onset of symptoms, which significantly reduces mortality – reaching about 20% even in the most severe cases.
Prevention involves avoiding contact with wild rodents and their fleas, as well as maintaining distance from people with suspicion or diagnosis of pneumonic plague. In cases of exposure, the use of prophylactic antibiotics is indicated.
Dr. André Apanavicius – CRM 111.998 / RQE: 57452
Pulmonologist
