The plague seems like one thing out of a historical past guide. However the illness—nicknamed the “Black Dying” or “Nice Pestilence”—that killed greater than 25 million individuals, a few third of Europe, in medieval instances could be very a lot nonetheless with us immediately.

Colorado officers confirmed Tuesday a human case of the plague was detected in Pueblo County. It comes after one other human case in Oregon in February.

Brought on by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is usually transmitted by fleas and handed by small animals like rodents or cats, the plague has been chargeable for greater than 200 million deaths all through historical past, relationship way back to 3,800 years in the past, in response to an article revealed within the American Journal of Medication. Whereas the majority of its casualties got here throughout three main pandemics—within the sixth century in and round Constantinople, in 14th century Europe, and in nineteenth century Asia—outbreaks have persevered to modern-day.

The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention says a median of seven instances are reported within the nation annually, largely within the western and southwestern states. Globally, there are about 1,000–3,000 instances per 12 months, with the three most endemic international locations being the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Peru, in response to the World Well being Group.

There are two principal types of plague an infection: bubonic, which is attributable to a flea chunk or blood contact with one other contaminated animal or materials and is characterised by swollen lymph nodes or “buboes”; and pneumonic, a extreme lung an infection attributable to inhaling droplets, such because the coughs of contaminated people or cats. Over 80% of plague instances within the U.S. have been the bubonic kind, in response to the CDC, although the pneumonic kind is extra harmful.

There may be at present no vaccine that may stop plague an infection accessible within the U.S., although there are steps you’ll be able to take, together with carrying insect repellent and making use of flea management merchandise to pets, to cut back the danger of an infection. At this time, nonetheless, most plague instances don’t end in loss of life due to advances in therapy, together with with generally accessible antibiotics—although untreated instances will be deadly. The general threat of loss of life for all sorts of plague within the U.S., in response to Mayo Clinic, is round 11%.

An important issue for survival is that medical consideration begins promptly. Signs to be careful for embrace swollen lymph nodes, sudden fever, head and physique aches, weak spot, vomiting and nausea, shortness of breath, chest ache, and cough, significantly with bloody mucus.