It is a pleasure for families to end the summer vacation with a trip to the grasslands. However, tourists are advised to avoid close contact with wild animals on the greens for fear of plague infection, according to Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Guangdong CDC).
On August 7, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region reported one case of the plague, followed by another two who are family members of the previous case a few days later. All close contacts have been quarantined and have shown no abnormal symptoms.
Plague is a severe contagious illness caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis). It tops the list of class A infectious diseases in the Law of the People's Republic of China on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases.
The disease is characterized by its rapid onset, short course, high mortality, strong infectivity, and fast transmission.
After being infected with the plague, one may experience bleeding under the skin, ecchymosis, cyanosis, and necrosis.
Plague has a case fatality rate of 30% to 100% if left untreated. Currently, it can be cured with antibiotics, which significantly lower the death rate if used early.
(Photo: Xinhua)
How does the plague spread?
There are two primary sources of infection:
Infected animals. Rodents such as rats and marmots can get the disease and spread it to humans.
Infected people. When people contact animals that have lung infections, or via direct respiratory infection, they may acquire pneumonic plague, which causes human-to-human transmission at an early stage.
In addition, patients with septicemic plague or bubonic plague with open sores can be contagious, while asymptomatic infections can not.
How do humans get infected?
Flea bites.
Direct contact with contaminated animals. When touching or eating infected animals, the bacteria may enter the human body through minor wounds on the hands, contaminating the lymphatic vessels and blood, and causing septicemic or bubonic plague.
The inhalation of respiratory droplets from a patient with pneumonic plague. The patient may breathe or cough droplets and aerosols containing the plague bacteria into the air, causing large-scale human-to-human transmission.
Who is at risk of getting the plague?
Humans are generally susceptible to the plague and can acquire lasting immunity after infection.
Vaccination is not recommended, except for high-risk groups (such as laboratory personnel who are constantly exposed to the risk of infection and health workers), or in the event of a large plague epidemic.
At present, there is no vaccination against plague for the public in China.
What are the symptoms of the plague?
The incubation period of the plague is usually 1 to 6 days, mostly 2 to 3 days, and 8 to 9 days in rare cases.
Symptoms include systemic poisoning, chills and trembling, sudden fever (39~41°C or about 102.2~105.8℉), and severe headaches. Sometimes patients may feel extreme weakness and fatigue resulting from vomiting, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Tachycardia, a fall in blood pressure, and an increase in white blood cell count may also appear.
In critical cases, patients may develop confusion, lethargy, agitation, delirium, flushing or paleness of the face, trepidation, and conjunctival hyperemia.
How to prevent plague infection?
Do not hunt, touch, or eat infected animals.
Do not carry animals and products from plague-stricken areas.
Report animals that die of plague, suspected cases, high fever for unknown reasons, and sudden deaths.
Use flea repellent indoors and outdoors to protect humans and pets from fleas.
Notes
Tourists who have traveled to the grasslands are advised to conduct a self-health observation for a week after the trip.
Individuals who develop fever, chills, painful swollen lymph nodes, and cough with bloody mucus should visit the doctor immediately and report their travel history for proper treatment.
Early detection, isolation, and treatment of plague can minimize the spread of the disease. It also helps patients from developing severe or critical cases and recover more quickly.
Author | Teria Wang (intern), Hannah
Editor | Olivia, Nan, Abby, James
