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According to the official website of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Health Commission, July 19, 2022 A case of bubonic plague (bubonic plague) was confirmed in the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University.

Patient Liu Moumou (male, 45 years old, living in Shanghai Temple Ranch, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, occupation is a herdsman), at around 9:00 on July 12, the patient consciously Fever, fatigue, unconsciousness, watery diarrhea, returned to Yinchuan from Inner Mongolia, and went to the Third People’s Hospital of Yinchuan City. Around 11:00 on July 13, he went to the Fourth People’s Hospital of the Autonomous Region, and on July 14, he went to Ningxia. The General Hospital of the Medical University was diagnosed as a suspected case of plague on July 19, and a case of plague was confirmed on the same day. At present, in accordance with the requirements of the regional plague control emergency plan, the Ningxia Autonomous Region People’s Government has launched a four-level emergency response. and personnel have adopted strict classification control measures, and various disposal work is progressing in an orderly manner.

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Question 1: What is the plague?

Public plague is a natural foci of disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, usually circulating among rodents, occasionally It can cause human epidemics and is a Class A infectious disease stipulated in the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases”.

Plague has rapid onset, short course of disease, high mortality, strong infectivity and rapid spread. In particular, septicemic plague and pneumonic plague have 30%-100% fatality rates if left untreated. The incubation period of the plague is short, generally 1-6 days, but up to 8-9 days in individual cases.

Question 2: What are the types of plague?

There are two main types of plague, depending on the route of infection: glandular and pulmonary. Both types of plague can be cured if diagnosed early.

Pulmonary or pneumonic plague is the most rapidly developing type of plague, with an incubation period as short as 24 hours. Anyone infected with pneumonic plague can spread the infection to others through droplets. Pneumonic plague is fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly, but cure rates are high if detected and treated promptly (within 24 hours of onset of symptoms).

Question 3: What is the source of the plague?< /p>

The source of plague infection is infected animals and pneumonic plague patients, and the host animals commonly include rodents and wild carnivores, such as gray marmots, Red Marmot, Himalayan Marmot and Long-tailed Squirrel etc.

Question 4: How did humans contract the plague?

Photo source: Central Committee of the Communist Youth League

The transmission route of plague There are two main types:

1. Flea bites are transmitted by mouse-flea-human, that is, flea bites Sick mice then bite people, or strip infected marmots or skin other infected animals. Such transmission methods often cause bubonic plague or septicemic plague.

2. human-to-human transmission, that is, after a healthy person contacts a patient with pneumonic plague, the Inhalation infection, this way of infection is mainly pneumonic plague.

Question 5: Who are the susceptible groups of plague?

Humans are generally susceptible to plague. People engaged in field work, hunters and herdsmen who hunt and flay marmots in the epidemic area are likely to come into contact with infected animals, and the possibility of infection is higher than that of the general population.

Question 6: What are the symptoms of plague?

Typical symptoms are sudden fever, chills, headache and body aches, weakness, nausea and vomiting. Bubonic plague can cause pain and inflammation of the lymph nodes. Symptoms appear soon after infection with pneumonic plague (sometimes within 24 hours), with severe respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough, often with bloody sputum.

Question 7: How should I protect myself from being infected?

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To prevent the spread of plague, avoid close contact (within 2 meters) of people who are coughing, and reduce the time spent in crowded places. Do not touch dead animals in plague endemic areas and use repellent.

Question 8: What should I do if I suspect I have the plague?

Seek immediate medical attention in the event of sudden onset of fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes or difficulty breathing, cough and/or bloody sputum (Those who have traveled in plague-endemic areas should inform medical staff of this). Self-medication, including antibiotics, should be avoided unless diagnosed by a healthcare provider.

Question 9: How was the plague diagnosed?

Health care providers make a diagnosis based on symptoms. The diagnosis is based on laboratory tests of blood, sputum (fluid coughed up from the lungs), or pus from inflammatory lymph glands.

Question 10: How should the plague be prevented?

Routine preventive measures are mainly to reduce human being bitten by infected fleas or to minimize exposure to people with pneumonic plague.

1. Avoid traveling or activities in infected areas and avoid contact with rodents (eg: rodents, marmots) ;

2. Avoid close contact with patients suffering from plague. When in contact with patients who may be infected with pneumonic plague, try to be as close as possible to patients Keep a contact distance of more than 1 meter, wear a mask, and wash your hands frequently;

3. Take necessary measures to prevent flea bites, Using repellents, commonly used repellents can generally drive away fleas;

4. If you have any symptoms such as fever, chills, lymph node pain, cough, hemoptysis or bleeding, you should seek medical attention immediately and inform the doctor of your travel history to the affected area. Antibiotic treatment is better.

5. Persons who are in close contact with patients with plague, should take preventive medicine as soon as possible. Sulfonamide preparations can be taken, 2 grams for the first time for adults, and 1 gram for the next 4-6 hours, usually for 5 days.

Question 11: How should the plague be treated?

Prompt antibiotic treatment can reduce the fatality rate of plague. More can be cured if treated early. In plague outbreak areas, symptomatic patients should go to health centers for diagnosis and treatment. Pneumonic plague patients must be isolated and treated by trained medical staff wearing personal protective equipment.

Question 12: Is wearing a mask effective for self-protection in plague outbreak areas?

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This depends on the level of patient contact. People living in the epidemic community can wear masks according to their personal wishes, but they must use and handle masks properly to avoid making themselves a source of infection due to improper use and handling of masks. Correct use of masks by patients (to reduce droplet transmission) and by healthcare workers (to protect themselves) can help reduce the spread of pneumonic plague.

Source: Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, China News Network p>

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