Bubonic Plague to make a comeback amid international COVID-19 crisis?

Guwahati: With the COVID-19 chaos yet to die down, reports of the dreaded bubonic plague resurfacing in China's Inner Mongolia region has again put the world community on edge. People are already panicking over the news on social media over the news, fearing that the plague could be the next COVID-19.

Months after a coronavirus outbreak was first reported in the animal markets of Wuhan, a city in northern China on Sunday, sounded an alert after a suspected case of bubonic plague was reported. People's Daily Online run by the Chinese Government announced that level III warning of plague prevention and control has been sounded in Bayannur, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The suspected case was reported on Saturday by a hospital in the city, and the warning period will continue till the end of 2020, local authorities said.

WHAT IS THE BUBONIC PLAGUE?

The bubonic plague can be transmitted by the bite of infected fleas, by direct contact with infected tissues, or by inhalation of infected respiratory droplets. The incubation period of this dreaded disease is 1 to 7 days.

In its early stages, the disease shows symptoms associated with common influenza. Sudden onset of fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, and seizures are the common symptoms associated with the disease. Although the disease can be treated with early diagnosis and by administering antibiotics, the fatality rate is very high if left untreated -- 30%-100%. However, the outcomes in cases that are detected early are good, as antibiotics are available to fight the infection.

The plague has a rather grim history in medieval Europe, where it wiped out a significant portion of the population. Over 50 million (or 5 crores) people were killed in the continent during the 14th century and streets were left piling up with corpses.

The plague has stuck around like a familiar foe and has also resurfaced time and again in modern times. Between 2000 and 2015, over 3,200 people were infected, resulting in 584 deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are still 1,000 to 3,000 cases of plague reported every year in different parts of the world.

The situation of a person infected by the plague can become very alarming if the disease is left untreated. Bacteria can invade the bloodstream and cause a severe fatal condition called the septicemic plague, which can be lethal for humans. Untreated bubonic plague can also cause an infection in the lungs, and is called pneumonic plague.

Certain precautions can be taken against the disease, such as taking steps to reduce rodent habitat around your home, workplace, and recreational areas, making homes and outbuildings rodent-proof, keeping pets free of fleas, and wearing gloves when handling potentially infected animals to prevent contact between skin and the plague bacteria. One must also use insect repellent if there is a risk of being exposed to fleas.

Bubonic plague is the most common type of plague that is caused by bacteria. It spreads through bacterias that reside on the rodents and it mainly affects the lymphatic system - a part of the immune system by causing inflammation in the lymph nodes. It is believed that the disease first originated in Asia some 2,000 years ago, although some scientists claim that it could have been present in Europe 3,000 years ago.

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