Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
11:31
'Bioluminescent' Reporter Phage for the Detection of Category A Bacterial Pathogens
Published on: July 8, 2011
Abstract:
Some examples are given of plague epidemics which have been negated or dissimulated in order to avoid isolation and quarantine: epidemics of Marseille (1720), San Francisco (1900), Mauretania (1963-1967), Libya and Egypt (1984).
Insights
Plague epidemics have historically been downplayed or concealed to evade isolation measures. This pattern is evident in documented outbreaks from Marseille to modern cases in Africa.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health History
- Infectious Disease Dynamics
Context:
- Historical plague outbreaks and their societal impact.
- The challenges of implementing public health interventions like quarantine.
- Instances where disease information was deliberately obscured.
Purpose:
- To examine historical cases of plague epidemics.
- To analyze the reasons behind the negation or dissimulation of plague outbreaks.
- To understand the consequences of avoiding isolation and quarantine measures.
Summary:
- Presents examples of plague epidemics where official responses were minimized to circumvent isolation and quarantine protocols.
- Highlights specific historical events, including the Marseille (1720), San Francisco (1900), Mauretania (1963-1967), and Libya/Egypt (1984) outbreaks.
- Demonstrates a recurring pattern of information management during disease crises.
Impact:
- Underscores the critical role of transparent reporting in epidemic control.
- Informs public health strategies by illustrating the risks associated with concealing disease information.
- Provides historical context for understanding contemporary challenges in managing infectious disease outbreaks.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Transmission-based precautions are for patients infected or suspected to be infected (or colonized) with organisms posing a significant risk to others. The transmission precautions include airborne and protective environment precautions.
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Transmission-based precautions are for patients known to be infected or suspected to be infected or colonized with organisms that pose a significant risk to others. Some transmission-based precautions include contact, enteric, and droplet.
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
01:28Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Medical management of tuberculosis (TB) patients involves a comprehensive approach that includes diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. The specific strategies can vary depending on the type of tuberculosis (latent or active), the patient's overall health status, and other considerations.
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
01:23Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
01:24Plague
Plague is a highly virulent zoonotic disease caused by Yersinia pestis, a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic coccobacillus. This pathogen primarily circulates among rodent populations and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected fleas. Additional transmission routes include direct contact with infected animal tissue or inhalation of respiratory droplets from individuals with pneumonic plague. These multiple transmission pathways highlight the bacterium’s potential for rapid...
01:24Smallpox
Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.