A couple died after eating the kidney of one of these animals, which prompted tourists to quarantine themselves

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A Mongolian couple ate a marmot

A local folk remedy meant to provide good health had the opposite effect for a Mongolian couple: after eating the raw kidney of a groundhog, the couple died of bubonic plague, reported Monday. AFP news agency. Health authorities reacted by declaring the quarantining of locals and foreign tourists come into contact with the couple.The plague, one of the deadliest bacterial infections in human history, would have caused 50 million of deaths in Europe in the Middle Ages. The symptoms, which usually appear within one to seven days after infection, include swollen lymph nodes, called bubos, painful as well as fever, chills, and a cough. "After forty, few people, even the locals, were on the street catching the disease," AFP Sebastian Pique, a US Peace Corps volunteer residing in the area, told AFP on a daily basis. Having caused nearly 50,000 human cases in the last two decades, it is now classified by the World Health Organization as re-emerging diseases. Worse still, the bacterium responsible for the plague, if it is converted into an aerosolized form, is considered one of the most likely biological threats and is classified as such by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How do you contract the plague? The plague affects humans and other mammals the CDC reports. Usually, people contract the plague after being bitten by a rodent flea carrying Yersinia pestis, the bacteria causing the disease, or by handling an infected animal. Cats, who become sick themselves, can infect humans directly, while more robust dogs can simply bring fleas back to their owners. People can also get sick by inhaling droplets from the cough of an infected person or animal. The bacterium persists because low levels are circulating among certain rodent populations, the CDC says. These infected animals and their fleas serve as long-term reservoirs for the bacteria. Where can you catch the plague? The plague occurs naturally in the western United States, particularly in Arizona, California, Colorado, and New Mexico, where seven cases of human plague on average are reported annually to the CDC. Plague is present on every continent, with the exception of Oceania, according to the World Health Organization. Although epidemics have occurred in Africa, Asia and South America, most human cases since the 1990s have occurred in Africa. Today, the three most endemic countries are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Peru. In Madagascar, cases of bubonic plague are reported almost every year during the epidemic season, between September and April. Is there a cure? Treatment of Plague Modern antibiotics – streptomycin is the usual first-line treatment – can prevent complications and death if they are administered soon after the onset of symptoms. However, a bubonic plague strain with high resistance to streptomycin has recently been observed in Madagascar. The same treatment is used for the two most common types of plague. The case fatality rate for bubonic plague is between 30% and 60%, whereas, according to the WHO, pneumonic plague, still untreated, is still fatal. More than 80% of American cases have been treated with bubonic form. infection. Untreated bubonic plague can turn into a more serious pneumonic plague, which causes a rapidly developing pneumonia, after the spread of the bacteria to the lungs. Is there a vaccine against the plague? At present, there is no effective vaccine against plague. According to a study conducted in 2015, a live attenuated oral vaccine has shown some promising results against pneumonic plague, but it offers no protection against it. A recent review of experimental plague vaccines suggests that researchers are exploring various approaches to developing an effective plague. inoculation. Because different designs of vaccines lead to different immunity mechanisms, the authors conclude that the combination of different types could help overcome the limitations of individual vaccines and effectively prevent a possible outbreak of plague.How do you protect -you and your family? Eliminating rodent nesting sites around your home, sheds, garages and recreation areas by eliminating brush, heaps of stone, trash and excess firewood. Report sick or dead animals to local law enforcement or health authorities, do not pick them up, or touch them yourself. Wear gloves if you must handle a sick or dead animal. Use an insect repellent containing DEET to prevent flea bites and treat dogs and cats regularly against fleas. Do not sleep with your pets as this increases your risk of contracting the plague. Finally, your pets should not hunt or roam in rodent habitats, such as prairie dog colonies.

(CNN) –

The plague, one of the most deadly bacterial infections in the history of humanity, would have caused 50 million deaths in Europe in the Middle Ages. Symptoms, usually occurring within one to seven days after infection, include swollen and painful lymph nodes called bubos, as well as fever, chills and coughing.

"After the quarantine [was announced] few people, even locals, were in the streets for fear of contracting the disease, "said AFP Sebastian Pique, a volunteer with the US Peace Corps living in the area.

The plague has recently made a comeback. Having caused nearly 50,000 human cases in the last two decades, it is now classified by the World Health Organization as re-emerging diseases. Even worse, the bacterium that causes the plague, if converted into an aerosolized form, is considered one of the most likely biological threats and is classified as such by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. .

How do you get the plague?

The plague affects humans and other mammals, reports the CDC. Usually, people contract the plague after being bitten by a rodent flea carrying Yersinia pestis, the bacteria causing the disease, or by handling an infected animal. Cats, who become sick themselves, can infect humans directly, while more robust dogs can simply bring fleas back to their owners. People can also get sick by inhaling droplets from the cough of an infected person or animal.

The bacterium persists because low levels circulate among populations of some rodents, says the CDC. These infected animals and their fleas serve as long-term reservoirs for the bacteria.

Where can you catch the plague?

The plague occurs naturally in the western United States, particularly in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico, where seven cases of human plague on average are reported annually to the CDC.

The plague is present on every continent except Oceania, according to the World Health Organization. Although epidemics have occurred in Africa, Asia and South America, most human cases since the 1990s have occurred in Africa. Today, the three most endemic countries are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Peru.

In Madagascar, cases of bubonic plague are reported almost every year during the epidemic season, between September and April.

Is there a cure? How is the plague treated?

Modern antibiotics – streptomycin is the usual first-line treatment – can prevent complications and death if administered promptly after the onset of symptoms. However, a bubonic plague strain highly resistant to streptomycin has recently been observed in Madagascar.

The same treatment is used for the two most common types of plague. The case fatality rate for bubonic plague is between 30% and 60%, while pneumonic plague, when it is not treated, is still fatal, according to the WHO.

More than 80% of American cases have been bubonic form, which is the most common form of infection. Untreated bubonic plague can develop into more severe pneumonic plague, which causes rapidly developing pneumonia after the spread of the bacteria into the lungs.

Is there a vaccine against the plague?

There is currently no effective vaccine against plague. According to a 2015 study, a live attenuated oral vaccine has shown some promise against pneumonic plague, but it offers no protection against bubonic plague.

A recent study of experimental vaccines against plague suggests that researchers are exploring various approaches to develop effective inoculation against plague. Since different designs of vaccines lead to different mechanisms of immunity, the authors conclude that the combination of different types could exceed the limits of individual vaccines and effectively prevent the plague epidemic.

How do you protect yourself and your family?

Key steps for plague prevention include eliminating rodent nesting sites around your home, sheds, garages and recreation areas by eliminating brush, heaps of pebbles, garbage and firewood. excess. Report sick or dead animals to local law enforcement or health authorities, do not pick them up, or touch them yourself. If you must handle a sick or dead animal, wear gloves.

Use an insect repellent containing DEET to prevent flea bites and treat dogs and cats regularly against fleas. Do not sleep with your pets as this increases your risk of contracting the plague. Finally, your pets should not hunt or roam in rodent habitats, such as prairie dog colonies.

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