The Black Death returns to the United States
- 7 years ago
NAVAJO COUNTY, ARIZONA — Two counties in Arizona reported fleas in the area have tested positive for plague, or known as the "Black Death", a disease that killed millions of people in Europe in the Middle Ages.
Navajo County and Coconino County in Arizona have issued warnings about fleas testing positive for the plague bacteria Yersinia pestis.
Fleas carrying the bacteria bite and infect rabbits and rodents. Household pets can also pick up the fleas. The bacteria is transmitted to humans who handle the sick animals or directly through flea bites.
According to the World Health Organization, the most common form of plague is the bubonic plague, which is when the bacteria enters the lymphatic system and cause infection in lymph nodes.
The disease can then become septicemic or pneumonic when the bacteria spread to the lungs. A person with pneumonic plague can transmit the disease to other humans via droplets in the air.
People infected with the disease usually develop flu-like symptoms after an incubation period up to seven days. Untreated plague can cause serious illness or death. Modern antibiotics are very effective in treating the disease, if the treatment is received in time.
Navajo County and Coconino County in Arizona have issued warnings about fleas testing positive for the plague bacteria Yersinia pestis.
Fleas carrying the bacteria bite and infect rabbits and rodents. Household pets can also pick up the fleas. The bacteria is transmitted to humans who handle the sick animals or directly through flea bites.
According to the World Health Organization, the most common form of plague is the bubonic plague, which is when the bacteria enters the lymphatic system and cause infection in lymph nodes.
The disease can then become septicemic or pneumonic when the bacteria spread to the lungs. A person with pneumonic plague can transmit the disease to other humans via droplets in the air.
People infected with the disease usually develop flu-like symptoms after an incubation period up to seven days. Untreated plague can cause serious illness or death. Modern antibiotics are very effective in treating the disease, if the treatment is received in time.