Pneumonic variant of Black Plague

This is a highly contagious variant of the black plague. The vector is not rats in this case the Yersina Pestis bacteria.

Pneumonic plague is a severe lung infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.[3] Symptoms include fever, headache, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough.[1] They typically start about three to seven days after exposure.[2] It is one of three forms of plague, the other two being septicemic plague and bubonic plague.[3]

The pneumonic form may occur following an initial bubonic or septicemic plague infection.[3] It may also result from breathing in airborne droplets from another person or cat infected with pneumonic plague.[1] The difference between the forms of plague is the location of infection; in pneumonic plague the infection is in the lungs, in bubonic plague the lymph nodes, and in septicemic plague within the blood.[3] Diagnosis is by testing the blood, sputum, or fluid from a lymph node.[1]

While vaccines are being worked on, in most countries they are not yet commercially available.[1][3] Prevention is by avoiding contact with infected rodents, people, or cats.[1][3] It is recommended that those infected be isolated from others.[2] Treatment of pneumonic plague is with antibiotics.[1]

Two people in Beijing have been diagnosed with the pneumonic plague—a rare instance of the highly-contagious disease that is fatal if left untreated.

The two individuals were being treated at a central hospital in China's capital city—home to over 21 million inhabitants—on Tuesday, local authorities said.

Pneumonic plague can prove fatal in 24 to 72 hours and is the "most virulent form of plague," according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), while the bubonic form is less dangerous.

The patients are from the northwestern Inner Mongolia province, district officials said in an online statement, adding that the "relevant prevention and control measures have been implemented."