[KYHAM] KEN Training 29 October 2007

[W2LTB at aol.com]

Here is the reference material for the training held on the Kentucky  
Emergency Net, held each Monday at 1930 hours EST on 3.972.5.
 
This material can also be accessed on the web at  
kyares13.kyham.net/resources.html.
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Pneumonic Plague

 
 
 
Facts about  Pneumonic Plague 
Plague is an infectious  disease that affects animals and humans. It is 
caused by the bacterium  Yersinia pestis. This bacterium is found in rodents and 
their fleas and  occurs in many areas of the world, including the United States. 
 
Y. pestis is easily  destroyed by sunlight and drying. Even so, when released 
into air, the bacterium  will survive for up to one hour, although this could 
vary depending on  conditions. 
Pneumonic plague is one of  several forms of plague. Depending on 
circumstances, these forms may occur  separately or in combination: 
Pneumonic plague occurs when  Y. pestis infects the lungs. This type of 
plague can spread from person  to person through the air. Transmission can take 
place if someone breathes in  aerosolized bacteria, which could happen in a 
bioterrorist attack. Pneumonic  plague is also spread by breathing in Y. pestis 
suspended in  respiratory droplets from a person (or animal) with pneumonic 
plague. Becoming  infected in this way usually requires direct and close contact 
with the ill  person or animal. Pneumonic plague may also occur if a person with 
bubonic or  septicemic plague is untreated and the bacteria spread to the 
lungs.  
Bubonic plague is the most  common form of plague. This occurs when an 
infected flea bites a person or when  materials contaminated with Y. pestis enter 
through a break in a  person's skin. Patients develop swollen, tender lymph 
glands (called buboes) and  fever, headache, chills, and weakness. Bubonic plague 
does not spread from  person to person.  
Septicemic plague occurs  when plague bacteria multiply in the blood. It can 
be a complication of  pneumonic or bubonic plague or it can occur by itself. 
When it occurs alone, it  is caused in the same ways as bubonic plague; 
however, buboes do not develop.  Patients have fever, chills, prostration, abdominal 
pain, shock, and bleeding  into skin and other organs. Septicemic plague does 
not spread from person to  person.  
Symptoms and  Treatment 
With pneumonic plague, the  first signs of illness are fever, headache, 
weakness, and rapidly developing  pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, 
cough, and sometimes bloody or  watery sputum. The pneumonia progresses for 2 
to 4 days and may cause  respiratory failure and shock. Without early 
treatment, patients may  die. 
Early treatment of pneumonic  plague is essential. To reduce the chance of 
death, antibiotics must be given  within 24 hours of first symptoms. 
Streptomycin, gentamicin, the tetracyclines,  and chloramphenicol are all effective 
against pneumonic plague. 
Antibiotic treatment for 7  days will protect people who have had direct, 
close contact with infected  patients. Wearing a close-fitting surgical mask also 
protects against  infection. 
A plague vaccine is not  currently available for use in the United States. 
James A.  McDonnell, W2LTB
Section Emergency Coordinator
Kentucky ARES
email:  w2ltb at arrl.net
web:  kyares13.kyham.net




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