Thinking of the plague, the bubonic plague that is, usually brings thoughts of a bygone era, at least a few centuries past.
But the bubonic plague, although treatable, still lurks in the carrier species, and sometimes the fleas that piggyback on rodents or other small mammals, can find their way to humans.
In Kyrgystan four people have contracted the deadly disease. A small boy, the first victim died last week. He was 15 years old. Temirbek Isakunov was treated, but too late.
Three more people have since been hospitalized, sending alarm bells throughout the community and the health authorities.
The symptoms of the bubonic plague are high fever, swollen lymph nodes, and ultimately the bubes, or infected nodes, that become filled with pus.
The reservoir for the disease are fleas, but this time, the infection seems to have been carried by a marmot and not a rat. The marmot had been caught and slaughtered for food, and the flea probably bit the boy as he dressed the catch.
The village quarters where the four infected lived has been quarantined to prevent the spread of the disease.
No other victims or ill patients aside from the four has been found so far.
Source : France 24/ 8.28.13
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