United States: A case linked to the plague was recently reported in a man in Colorado, which has re-ignited the concerns related to the ‘black death,’ according to the reports by CNN.
It is to be noted that the rare disease was dangerous for millions of Europeans during the Middle Ages and has mostly been eradicated in humans. However, the recent case is one of the rare human cases found linked to the infection, according to thecooldown.com.
Why has the plague recently become a matter of concern?
The plague is also known as the “Black Death.” The disease spreads through a bite from fleas and quickly spreads among wild rodents. Between the years 2010 and 2015, the world reported as many as 3,248 plague cases in humans, according to the report shared by the World Health Organization.
Majority of the cases linked to the disease were found in Peru, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.
The second name for the disease ‘black death’ is enough to figure the seriousness of the disease. The concerns are high because there is no availability of plague vaccine across the world and the disease can only be cured if detected early.
While explaining the harm associated with the infection, the program manager of the Office of Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness at the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment – Alicia Solis mentioned, “Plague can be treated successfully with antibiotics, but an infected person must be treated promptly to avoid serious complications or death,” as per thecooldown.com.
Is the spread of flea-borne disease important?
Vector-borne diseases, transmitted through the bites of various insects, have been increasingly prevalent as these vectors extend their habitats due to the Earth’s escalating temperatures. A particular scientific inquiry underscores this trend, including the resurgence of the plague.
” A large increase in the number of fleas found on a prairie dog colony, coupled with a greater number of infested burrows, could have substantial effects on plague dynamics in the western United States as the climate warms,” the study forecasted.
Other vector-borne illnesses witnessing recent upsurges encompass dengue fever, propagated by mosquitoes, the West Nile virus, also mosquito-borne, and Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks, among others.
Countermeasures Against the Plague
Authorities have recommended that individuals eradicate potential rodent shelters near their residences, such as brush, rock heaps, debris, and stacks of lumber around homes, garages, sheds, and recreational zones. They also advised treating pets for fleas, storing pet food in containers impervious to rodents, and avoiding co-sleeping with pets, as per thecooldown.com.
Concurrently, scientists are developing sophisticated methodologies to monitor insect populations that disseminate these diseases to enhance preparedness and combat these threats. Notably, AI is being employed to track malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in Africa.