About Plague
Please consult with your medical professional about the applicability of this information to your own situation. The content below includes links to external sites which will open in a new browser window.
What is the plague?
Plague is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Yersinia pestis. These bacteria are found mainly in rodents, particularly rats, and in the fleas that feed on them. Other animals and humans usually contract the bacteria from rodent or flea bites.
Wasn’t the plague a disease of the Dark Ages?
The first recorded case of plague was in China in 224 B.C. There have been 3 major plague epidemics; the first plague epidemic spanned from the Middle East to the Mediterranean basin during the 5th and 6th centuries, killing about half the population of those areas. In the 1300s, the "Black Death," as it was called, killed approximately one-third (25 million) of Europe's population. The third pandemic started in 1855 in China and spread to every major continent, killing an estimated 12 million people.
Is it still around?
Yes. Because there are about 30 species of fleas that carry the bacteria, and because they infect more than 200 mammalian species, the plague is virtually impossible to eradicate. Rodents are the most important hosts to transmit the disease, particularly rats. In the U.S., the animals most likely to transmit plague are squirrels, rabbits, and prairie dogs.
Are people still being infected with plague?
Yes. Between 1987 and 2001, over 36,000 cases were reported to the World Health Organization. Globally, the WHO reports 1,000 to 3,000 cases of plague every year. The 1994 outbreaks in Malawi, Mozambique, and India raised concerns that the disease might reemerge as a significant worldwide public health hazard.
Is it in the U.S.?
Approximately 10 to 20 people develop plague each year from flea or rodent bite - primarily from infected prairie dogs in rural areas of the southwestern United States. In 2006, a total of 13 human plague cases were reported among residents of four states: New Mexico, Colorado, California, and Texas; two cases were fatal. The rate of plague in the United States is low, probably because the affected areas are rural and largely uninhabited.
How can plague be prevented?
Reducing exposure is the best preventive measure. In known endemic areas, avoidance of handling dead rodent carcasses, use of insect repellents, and flea and rodent control can play an important role in prevention efforts. For those who have been in face-to-face contact with someone with known or suspected plague, preventive antibiotic therapy can be utilized.
Are there vaccines available?
A killed whole-cell vaccine has been developed but is no longer commercially available in the United States. The effectiveness of the vaccine has been difficult to evaluate. Much of the experience has been with vaccination of military personnel deployed to areas where plague is common, such as Vietnam. The vaccine does appear to provide some protection. The concern about plague as a bioterrorism agent has led to the development of a number of newer vaccines, some of which are undergoing clinical testing.
For more information on plague:
Mayo Clinic: Osteoporosis
WebMD: Bubonic Plague Center for Disease Control: Plague
World Health Organization: Plague
Contact Rochester Clinical Research today
to learn more about becoming a clinical research study volunteer!
Sign up for one of our active clinical studies.
[ Back to Top ]to learn more about becoming a clinical research study volunteer!
Sign up for one of our active clinical studies.
Rochester Clinical Research performs clinical research trials and studies for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. We rapidly recruit and screen quality volunteers to participate in clinical studies, and we maintain a large database of volunteers. Study volunteers receive free study-related medical care, investigational medicines, and a monetary stipend to compensate for their time and travel. RCR studies include therapeutic areas and drug categories such as weight loss, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, flu vaccines, and smoking cessation. Our state-of-the-art medical office facility is staffed by highly qualified, caring physicians, investigators, and nurses. RCR is located in Rochester NY and serves the Finger Lakes region of New York. RCR is a WBENC-Certified Women's Business Enterprise.
