Bubonic Plague: Chinese city issues alert of epidemic after 2 cases

A city in northern China on Sunday sounded an alert after it reported the first suspected case of bubonic plague or ‘Black Death’. Health officials found a suspected bubonic plague case from Bayan Nur City. The local health authority said that there is a risk of a human plague epidemic spreading in the city.

A Chinese news agency says, The confirmed cases are of two brothers a 27-year-old resident and his 17-year-old brother. The siblings are being treated at two separate hospitals in their province. A total of 146 people who had contact with them have been isolated and treated at local hospitals

The brothers ate marmot meat and the health officials have warned people to not eat marmot meat. The officials have asked people to report any suspected cases of plague or fever and to report any sick or dead marmots.

WHAT IS BUBONIC PLAGUE?

Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease that is spread by fleas living on wild rodents such as marmots. It can kill an adult in less than 24 hours if not treated in time. The plague had first appeared in the 14th century in Central Asia. It went on to claim millions of lives as it spread through the countries. Bubonic plague is also known as ‘Black Death’.

Symptoms:

Headache, chills, fever, malaise, and pain generally around the affected areas on the body. The first symptoms may appear 2 to 6 days after a person contacts the plague. Bubonic plague develops into a pneumonic plague when bacteria enter the lungs. Bubonic plague has a mortality rate of 30 percent to 60 percent.

VACCINE

According to the WHO, a vaccine for the bubonic plague is available for individuals with high exposure to the plague.

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