Pneumonic plague explained: how the most dangerous form spreads
Pneumonic plague spreads through coughing and is nearly always fatal without early antibiotics.
A worker has died at a Russian plague research laboratory. This sparked questions about one of history's deadliest diseases.
Pneumonic plague is the most dangerous form of plague. It is a serious infection that attacks the lungs.
It can spread person-to-person through coughing. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing up blood.
About 1,000 to 3,000 plague cases occur globally each year. Most are the bubonic type in central Africa.
The good news: antibiotics work well if given early. Without treatment, pneumonic plague is nearly always fatal.
The bacteria lives in around 200 rodent species worldwide. So human cases keep happening in parts of Africa, Asia and the Americas.
- 1,000 to 3,000
- Yearly plague cases globally
- 200
- Rodent species carrying bacterium
- bubonic plague, central Africa
- Most cases are type
Why it mattersUnderstanding pneumonic plague matters because it remains a real threat. The bacteria stays in animal groups across the world.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, but Australian health authorities monitor plague cases globally as part of pandemic preparedness.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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