Plague bacteria

In a biological warfare scenario, the plague bacteria could be delivered by contaminated fleas (bubonic plague) or, more likely, by aerosol spread (pneumonic plague). Pneumonic plague can be transmitted also by large aerosol droplets expelled by coughing. 

Fig. 2.4 (See color plate) Plague bacteria in blood arrows). From Plague bacteria in blood. CDC Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases (DVBID). http //www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/ plague/pl.htm...

Traces of plague bacteria were found. Finally there were another 600 cases of plague in three other Chinese provinces which the Chinese ascribed to an inhuman act of our enemy . The detail certainly suggests that the incidents were more than mere propaganda stories. Whether they were isolated events or part of a systematic biological attack on China is unknown. 

A member of the white supremacist Aryan Nation acquired freeze-dried bubonic plague bacteria from the ATCC [76]. 

Former Texas Tech professor Thomas Butler said that 30 vials of plague bacteria were missing from the university. In fact, he stole, smuggled, and illicitly transported the bacteria to Tanzania [131]. 

If the plague bacteria were to be dispersed in the air, a more likely scenario in a war or a terrorist attack, inhalation of such contaminated air can result in an outbreak of primary pneumonic plague. However, if the fleas in a less likely scenario were used to carry the plague organisms bubonic or the septicemic form of the disease can spread. 

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. 

How quickly would someone get sick if exposed to plague bacteria through the air ... 

A. Yes, when the other person has plague pneumonia and coughs droplets containing the plague bacteria into air that is breathed by a non-infected person. 

With the exception of smallpox virus and to a lesser extent plague bacteria, person-to-person transmission of these diseases rarely occurs if "universal precautions" are maintained (e.g., gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection). The majority of infected patients can be cared for without specialized isolation rooms or specialized ventilation systems. Cohort nursing with the usual practice of universal precautions will provide adequate protection. The hemorrhagic virus infections may be transmissible via a respirable aerosol of blood— respiratory protection of workers caring for these patients is required. 

Plague is sensitive to streptomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and gentamicin, but weaponized plague bacteria may be genetically engineered to be resistant to these antibiotics. Aggressive antibiotic treatment must be started within 18 to 24 hours of onset of symptoms if the patient is to be saved. If there is a pk ue epidemic, you will need to take oral doxycycline or ciprofloxin to prevent contracting the disease. 

Septicemic piague Fatal form of plague that occurs when bubonic plague bacteria move from the lymphatics to the circulatory system. 

Unlike anthrax, plague bacteria do not form spores, therefore are much more susceptible to environmental stresses and usually die after several hours of exposure to sunlight. Nonetheless, compared to other bacteria that do not form spores, plague bacteria are hardy. (The Soviet Union weaponized it for their BW arsenals, but American scientists—during the heyday of the US BW program—were unable to master the technique of mass producing Yersinia pestis.)... 

Beijing, then to Mukden (Manchuria) where he obtained Yersinia pestis (plague) bacteria. Two condemned North Korean prisoners were infected with the plague. One of them was put to death and his body used as evidence of biological warfare, which was presented to the visiting International Scientific Commission team mentioned above. 

Ken Alibek, interview, November 6,1998. The Soviet defector,Vladimir Pasechnik, was the first to tell the West that the Soviets had developed plague bacteria resistant to antibiotics. See Richard Preston, The Bioweaponeers, The NewYorker (March 9,1998) p. 58. 

Plague is a zoonosis rodents, rabbits and, rarely, cats are the main natural reservoir for the disease. Human contact is usually from an insect vector, such as a flea, that has fed on an infected animal. The disease may also be spread from person to person by inhalation of droplets released by an infected person coughing. Strains of plague bacteria are held in protected laboratories and therefore laboratory workers may also be at risk of accidental exposure. 

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