You may have heard of the plague. Once infected, the patient will suddenly develop symptoms of high fever and enlarged lymph nodes, and the condition often deteriorates rapidly, and the possibility of death is extremely high.

There may be a misunderstanding here, thinking that the plague is transmitted by mice. In fact, many animals in nature can be infected with plague, especially rodents such as rats and marmots.

1

Groundhogs can spread plague

Marmot, also known as groundhogs, is a rodent commonly found in the northwest region of my country. This seemingly cute wild animal is actually the natural host of Yersinia plague. There are a wide range of natural plague sources in provinces such as Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Tibet in my country, and groundhogs are the main host animals in these plague sources. Therefore, no matter how cute the groundhog is, don’t have close contact with it. Watching and teasing groundhogs are high-risk behaviors.

2

Humans can infect plague through various channels

Plague is mainly transmitted through vectors, contact and droplets.

In natural epidemic sources, vector transmission is the main transmission method. Fleas are the main vector for spreading plague. Fleas parasitic on groundhogs can cause infection after being infected with plague bacteria and then biting people.

Contact transmission refers to the infection caused by infection by a person when he is exposed to an infected groundhog, or when he is exposed to excrement or secretions of a plague patient, the bacteria enter the body through the wounds on the surface of the skin or mucosa.

In addition, respiratory secretions of patients with pneumoplague contain a large amount of plague bacteria. The bacteria released by the patient when he breathes and coughs can form droplets. At this time, if others inhale, it can also cause infection.

3

How to prevent plague

First is to avoid contact. Stay away from groundhogs and their caves and do not catch or raise groundhogs.

The second is personal protection. Wear long-sleeved clothing and use insect repellent to prevent flea bites when in the wild.

The third is environmental sanitation. Keep your living environment clean and prevent rodents and fleas from breeding.

The fourth is health monitoring. If you are exposed to a groundhog and have suspicious symptoms, you should go to the nearest medical institution immediately for medical treatment and inform your doctor of your contact history.

4

What should I do when traveling

When traveling, try to minimize contact with groundhogs, do not tease groundhogs with unknown health status, and take measures to prevent flea bites. By using repellents, reduce body exposure, avoid being bitten by fleas, and do not hunt groundhogs and other wild animals without risking them.

5

Plague can be prevented and cured

Plague is an ancient bacterial infectious disease that can be treated with a variety of effective antibiotics in clinical practice. If the patient can see a doctor early and receive standardized and effective treatment, the cure rate is very high. Suspicious contacts can also avoid the disease by taking preventive medication.