Pneumonic plague is considered the most dangerous form of plague, reports the BBC.
What is pneumonic plague?
Pneumonic plague is an extremely serious lung infection, often referred to as the most aggressive form of plague.
There are two other types of plague: bubonic, which affects the lymph nodes, and septicemic, which affects the blood.
Pneumonic plague can develop after an initial infection with one of these two types.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, and often coughing up blood.
It is considered a more serious, but less common, form compared to bubonic plague.
The total number of cases for all three types of plague varies annually, but likely ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 cases.
Most of these are bubonic plague. A significant number of cases are recorded in Central Africa, but the disease also occurs in other regions, including Russia, India, China, and the USA.
Pierre Aligri, Professor of Infectious Diseases Associated with Poverty at the University of Oxford, explained that "plague itself has not disappeared: the bacterium that causes it – Yersinia pestis – persists in natural reservoirs among animals in many parts of the world.
This bacterium can be carried by about 200 species of rodents, and natural reservoirs are widespread in America, Eurasia, and Africa.
Therefore, isolated human cases still occur, but established epidemiological surveillance systems, infection control measures, and effective antibiotic treatment are important tools to limit the consequences of this disease."
How does it spread?
Plague is an infectious disease caused by bacteria commonly found in small mammals and their fleas.
Infection can occur through the bite of an infected flea or through contact with a sick animal.
However, human-to-human transmission of pneumonic plague is also possible: infected droplets enter the air during coughing and then enter another person's body through the respiratory tract, although this usually requires quite close contact.
The disease can also develop if the septicemic form of plague progresses and the infection spreads to the lungs.
It is believed that pneumonic plague was the primary form of the disease during the so-called "Black Death" – a massive epidemic that claimed millions of lives in Europe in the 14th century.
Dr. Zania Stamataki, Associate Professor of Viral Immunology at the University of Birmingham, notes that it is important for researchers to be able to study diseases like plague.
"I understand why the thought of having plague in a laboratory causes concern for people, so it's worth explaining why such work is being done," she said. "Plague is not a disease of the past. It remains endemic among rodent populations in Africa, Asia, and America, and human cases occur annually, including outbreaks of the pneumonic form.
Diagnosis, vaccine development, and monitoring of antibiotic resistance all require laboratories where the live pathogen is stored and studied. This work is vital for preparing for potential outbreaks."
Can it be cured?
According to the World Health Organization, the pneumonic form of plague has a very short incubation period – sometimes as short as 24 hours.
Experts warn: if the disease is not diagnosed and treated promptly, it almost always leads to death.
However, there is good news: plague responds well to antibiotic treatment if therapy is started early.
Dr. Malik Gibani, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Bacterial Vaccinology at Imperial College London, notes that this infection is recognized as a serious threat to public health.
"Pneumonic plague is an extremely severe form of plague. Some textbooks state that without treatment, mortality reaches 100%, although accurate statistics are difficult to obtain in modern conditions. The disease is treatable with antibiotics, especially if started early.
That is why people who may have been exposed with a high risk of infection may be offered post-exposure antibiotic prophylaxis and/or quarantine," the doctor also explained.
As for the case in Russia, it is still unclear whether the deceased girl was infected with the pneumonic form of plague.
Russian authorities published a statement saying that tests did not reveal "any microorganisms associated with the patient's professional activity," so at this stage, it is still not entirely clear what exactly happened.
US President Donald Trump stated that Washington is "watching very closely" this situation.
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