Bubonic plague is an ancient
disease spread by fleas infected with the Yersinia
pestis bacteria. Modern treatment
for bubonic plague involves supportive treatment and antibiotics (treatment not
developed until 1928 when Sir Alexander Fleming recognized that germs could not
grow around the mold Penicillium. From this observation and scientific work,
our first antibiotic Penicillin was developed).
The Oregon welder (in our news
story) faces the possibility of losing fingers and toes and needing much
rehabilitation to regain his health. My
heart goes out to this man and his family as they deal with this health
crisis. After reading this story, I’m
thinking fleas (and rodents that carry them) are a situation to be avoided. More information about this story can be
found at http://news.yahoo.com/oregon-man-recovering-rare-case-bubonic-plague-220749129.html For more
suggestions about how to protect ourselves from this very old disease, check
out the CDC website, http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/resources/plaguebrochure.pdf
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