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[The plague]

P Bol1

  • 1Arts-epidemioloog Faculteit Civiele Techniek en Geowetenschappen Sectie Gezondheidstechniek TU Delft Postbus 5048 2600 GA Delft. pbol@xs4all.nl

Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Tandheelkunde
|May 2, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria, remains a global threat. Modern antibiotics have significantly improved survival rates, but vigilance against this potential bioterrorism agent is crucial.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Plague, historically devastating, continues to occur worldwide.
  • Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague, is transmitted by fleas on rodents.
  • Modern antibiotic treatments have drastically reduced plague mortality rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the ongoing relevance of plague as a global health concern.
  • To emphasize the importance of Yersinia pestis as a potential bioterrorism agent.
  • To advocate for continued attention to plague, smallpox, and anthrax.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical and current plague incidence data.
  • Analysis of Yersinia pestis transmission dynamics.
  • Assessment of Yersinia pestis as a bioterrorism threat.

Main Results:

  • Plague survival rates have improved from 50% to 85% with antibiotic treatment.
  • Yersinia pestis is identified as a plausible bioterrorism agent.
  • There is a continued need for awareness and preparedness for plague.

Conclusions:

  • Plague remains a significant infectious disease requiring ongoing surveillance and control measures.
  • The potential for Yersinia pestis to be used in bioterrorism necessitates heightened biosecurity and preparedness.
  • Public health focus on plague, smallpox, and anthrax is warranted.

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