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Plague guides
22 in-depth guides based on WHO and CDC sources, covering the clinical forms of plague, transmission, diagnosis, treatment and vaccines.
- Forms of plagueBubonic plague: symptoms, bubo (swollen lymph node) and treatmentA complete guide to bubonic plague: symptoms, the bubo, transmission by fleas, incubation, diagnosis and antibiotic treatment.~4 min read
- Forms of plaguePneumonic plague: is it contagious? Symptoms, transmission and fatalityPneumonic plague is the most severe form and the only one that spreads between people. Symptoms, transmission, fatality and treatment.~4 min read
- Forms of plagueSepticemic plague: what it is, symptoms and why it is so seriousSepticemic plague: how the bacterium spreads through the blood, symptoms such as shock and bleeding, and why early diagnosis matters.~3 min read
- TransmissionHow plague spreads: fleas, rodents and person-to-person transmissionHow plague is transmitted: the rodent-flea-human cycle, the role of the rat flea and person-to-person spread in the pneumonic form.~3 min read
- SymptomsPlague incubation period: how many days and what to watch forThe incubation period of plague by clinical form, why it matters for contact tracing and what to do after an exposure.~3 min read
- DiagnosisHow plague is diagnosed: tests and differential diagnosisHow plague is diagnosed: clinical suspicion, samples, culture, PCR, F1 antigen testing and differential diagnosis.~3 min read
- TreatmentPlague treatment: antibiotics, duration and post-exposure stepsHow plague is treated: first-line and alternative antibiotics, duration, post-exposure prophylaxis and resistance.~3 min read
- PreventionIs there a plague vaccine? What the science says todayIs there a plague vaccine? What exists, why it is not recommended for the general public and what is under research.~3 min read
- PreventionPlague in cats and dogs: risk to owners and how to prevent itCats and dogs in the plague cycle: risk to owners, signs in pets and how to prevent it through flea control.~3 min read
- PreventionPlague and travel: where the risk is and how to protect yourselfPlague risk for travellers, regions where the disease circulates, precautions and what to do if symptoms appear after a trip.~3 min read
- BrazilPlague in Brazil: history, cases, natural foci and current riskPlague reached Brazil in 1899 through its ports and established foci in the Northeast. History, natural foci and current risk.~3 min read
- HistoryBlack Death and the three plague pandemics: history, deaths and what changedThe Black Death and the three plague pandemics (Justinian, Black Death and Third Pandemic): when they happened, how many died and why a fourth pandemic is unlikely.~6 min read
- ContextPlague and bioterrorism: why the bacterium is a risk agentWhy Yersinia pestis is a biological risk agent, the history of military programmes and the role of biosafety.~3 min read
- RiskCould plague cause a new pandemic? What experts sayCould plague cause a pandemic? Why transmission is limited, the role of antibiotics and what experts say about the risk.~3 min read
- ReferencePlague glossary: medical terms explained in plain languageA glossary of the main terms about plague: bubo, septicemia, vector, reservoir, incubation, prophylaxis, PCR and BSL-3.~3 min read
- Special groupsPlague in pregnancy: risks to mother and baby and how treatment worksPlague in pregnancy: severity, risk to the baby, why treatment cannot wait and the antibiotics considered.~3 min read
- Special groupsPlague in children: symptoms, risks and what to doHow plague presents in children, the warning signs and why early treatment is decisive in this age group.~3 min read
- WorldPlague in Madagascar: the 2017 outbreak and why the country is endemicMadagascar is one of the countries with the most plague cases. The endemic situation, the 2017 outbreak and what it taught.~3 min read
- PreventionHow to control fleas and rodents at home and prevent plagueA practical guide to controlling fleas and rodents at home: sealing, sanitation, the right order of treatment and safety.~3 min read
- TreatmentPlague antibiotic resistance: what has been observedYersinia pestis is usually susceptible to several antibiotics, but a multidrug-resistant strain has been reported. What is known.~3 min read
- EpidemiologyWhere plague exists today: countries and regions with the diseaseWhere plague still exists: countries and regions with circulation, annual cases and why Brazil is not an endemic area.~3 min read
- EpidemiologyPlague in South America: which countries have foci and the real riskDoes plague exist in South America? Foci in Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, Brazil’s situation and the risk for travellers.~3 min read