Is bubonic plague dangerous for humans in 2020

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

The news of the outbreak of bubonic plague amid the coronavirus pandemic shocked the world community. But is it so dangerous for humans now that medicine has made progress? Get expert opinion.

Danger to the world

Galina Kompanets, scientific secretary of the N. N. G. P. Somova, shares her opinion on whether the bubonic plague is dangerous for humans. She states that the transmission of the infectious agent is carried out only through direct contact with the vector (mainly rodents).

The spread of the pathogen outside the territory of gophers' residence occurs quite rarely. She identified Mongolia, its border areas, and northern China as key natural foci of the plague.

Gophers, she said, transmit an infectious agent to each other not only through contact, but also through flea bites. If an infected insect bites a person, they will also become infected. The bacteria that cause bubonic plague can live in body fluids for a long time.

This pathogen, according to the expert, is highly contagious. For the symptoms of the disease to appear, only a few microbial cells are enough. And for the plague to continue to spread in the human community and further, healthy people will only need to contact the sick.

For the same reason, according to her, doctors working with sick patients are at risk. At the same time, roommates who breathe the same air with the patient, but do not contact him directly, cannot become infected.

The first obstacle on the way to penetration into the body for the pathogen is the lymph node. That is why one of the symptoms of the disease is inflammation and enlargement.

In general, the expert notes that he does not see the threat of global spread in 2020, since local cases of infection with bubonic plague are periodically recorded in China, North and South America. This is explained by the fact that people in these regions actively catch and eat gophers. The gopher is not prone to migration, and therefore is not capable of transferring this disease to large territories.

The BBC quotes an infectious disease specialist at Stanford University Hospital S. Kappagoda on whether the bubonic plague is dangerous to humans. He also does not see the potential danger of the global spread of the disease.

The expert says that if in the XIV century the bubonic plague could create serious problems, now there is knowledge about the mechanism of transmission of the pathogen. Virologists know how to prevent the spread of pathology and treat patients who are infected.

According to him, there are quite effective antibiotics for this. In 2020, WHO names such countries as potentially problematic regions: Madagascar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Peru.

Is there a danger for the inhabitants of Russia

Vladislav Zhemchugov, Doctor of Medical Sciences and a specialist in especially dangerous infectious diseases, said that an epidemic of bubonic plague is not expected on the territory of our country in 2020. The expert is sure that this pathogen poses absolutely no danger to the inhabitants of Russia.

He sees in this plague a natural focal disease that is always present in natural conditions. There are similar foci within Russia. But anti-plague services help to monitor the situation in this area, which carry out special work all year round to prevent the transfer of the pathogen from animals to humans.

Alexander Platonov, a researcher at the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology working in the laboratory of natural focal infections, said that bubonic plague, an outbreak of which was recorded in China and Mongolia, is not dangerous for the inhabitants of Russia. The expert explains that the likelihood of spreading on a large scale arises when the gopher population increases.

Then the animals begin to infect each other, which leads to infection and the insects living on them. It turns out that those people who subsequently come into contact with these insects - fleas are at greatest risk.

But if such situations arise, then to stop the spread of the disease, the gopher population is reduced. For this, special teams are created to travel to problem areas.

If the problem does arise, it will be eliminated rather quickly, and for this there are all the necessary tools. Platonov assured that the disease is well treated in the early stages. A special vaccine has also been developed that can protect against infection.

Summarize

1. Experts unanimously declare that there is no threat of a world epidemic of bubonic plague.
2. Also, experts do not see the dangers for the inhabitants of Russia.
3. Today, good ways have been developed to prevent the widespread spread of infection. These include preventive treatments for problem areas.
4. If desired, you can get vaccinated against the pathogen.