Latest news with #TheBlackDeath
NDTV
2 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
What is Pneumonic Plague? History, Symptoms As US Reports First Death Since...
A US citizen has died of pneumonic plague, becoming the first person to have died from the disease since 2007. The deceased has been identified as an Arizona resident, with the Coconino County Health and Human Services confirming the death, according to a BBC report. The patient suffered from Yersinia pestis, the plague-causing bacteria, which was determined by the Arizona Department of Health Services through rapid diagnostic testing. Despite the death, Coconino County government assured that the risk to the public of exposure remains low. "Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the deceased. We are keeping them in our thoughts during this difficult time. Out of respect for the family, no additional information about the death will be released," Coconino County Board of Supervisors Chair Patrice Horstman said in a statement. Plague is a bacterial infection that was referred to as "The Black Death" in the 14th century when it killed half of Europe's population during an eight-year period between 1346 and 1353. What is pneumonic plague? There are different forms of plague, such as bubonic plague and septicemic plague, which are generally caused by the bite of an infected flea. However, pneumonic plague, which spreads to the lungs from other untreated forms of plague, is the most serious and is usually rare. Pneumonic plague develops when bacteria spread to the lungs of a patient with untreated bubonic or septicemic plague, or when a person inhales infectious droplets coughed out by another person or animal with pneumonic plague. It is the only form of plague that can be spread from person to person. The incubation period of pneumonic plague following inhalation can be as short as one day. Symptoms of pneumonic plague Fever, headache and weakness Pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, cough Sometimes bloody or watery mucous. Cure for pneumonic plague Though plague is potentially life-threatening, it can be cured with antibiotics, but treatment must be given quickly.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Patient dies from the ‘Black Death' plague less than 24 hours after symptoms first emerged
A PERSON has died from plague just 24-hours after they showed up at hospital with symptoms, health officals have said. The victim was rushed to Flagstaff Medical Center in Arizona, US, showing severe symptoms, and died the same day, an email seen by 3 An unidentified person has died from the plague in the US 3 Flagstaff Medical Center in Arizona where the victim died Credit: Facebook / Northern Arizona Healthcare Flagstaff An autopsy later confirmed the presence of Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes plague. Officials said the individual had pneumonic plague, the rarest and most dangerous form of the disease. Unlike the more common bubonic type, pneumonic plague infects the lungs and spreads from person to person via airborne droplets. Without urgent treatment, it can kill within just 24 hours, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warns. Read more on the plague No further details about the patient have been released. It is the first confirmed plague death in Coconino County, in northern Arizona, since 2007, when a case was linked to contact with a dead animal carrying the infection. The Coconino County government said the risk to the public of exposure remains low. "Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the deceased," Patrice Horstman from the county's Board of Supervisors Chair, said in a statement. Most read in Health "We are keeping them in our thoughts during this difficult time. "Out of respect for the family, no additional information about the death will be released." The Black Death The plague is infamously responsible for the 14th-century It remains on both the WHO and UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) priority pathogen lists due to its potential to cause a pandemic. Though now rare and treatable with antibiotics, plague can still be deadly. Pneumonic cases in particular are fatal in up to 90 per cent of patients if left untreated. There are several forms of plague. Bubonic plague, the most common form, is usually spread through the bite of infected fleas. 3 The disease can cause tissue to turn black and die Credit: Wikipedia The disease can be transmitted to humans either by flea bites or through direct contact with infected animals, including pet dogs and cats. The main symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, usually in the neck, groin, thighs, or armpits. These swollen nodes, called buboes, can cause surrounding tissue to turn black and die, a symptom believed to have inspired the name "Black Death." Septicemic plague occurs when the infection spreads to the bloodstream. It can develop on its own or as a complication of bubonic plague, causing symptoms like fever, abdominal pain, shock, and bleeding into the skin and organs. Pneumonic plague, the most severe form, infects the lungs and can spread rapidly between humans through airborne droplets. It often starts as bubonic or septicemic plague that has spread to the lungs if left untreated. Symptoms include fever, Last week, officials from the Coconino County Health Department reported several prairie dog deaths northeast of Flagstaff, which can be a sign of the disease. However, health officials have since confirmed that the recent human plague death is not connected to the prairie dog die-off. Risk to Brits is 'very low' The WHO estimates between 1,000 and 2,000 cases occur globally each year. On average, seven human plague cases are reported in the US each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meanwhile, plague is no longer found in the UK, and the risk of imported cases is considered 'very low,' according to government guidance. However, Covid jab scientists are developing a The team behind the Oxford AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine said they had made progress on an injection that could prevent bubonic plague from developing The last significant British outbreak occurred in Suffolk in 1918, though a few isolated cases have been suspected since. Recent infections have been reported in countries including the US, Peru, China, Bolivia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Russia. History of the Black Death THE Black Death was an epidemic of bubonic plague which struck Europe and Asia in the 1300s. It killed more than 20 million people in Europe. Scientists now know the plague was spread by a bacillus known as . Bubonic plague can cause swelling of the lymph nodes. If untreated, it could spread to the blood and lungs. Other symptoms included fever, vomiting and chills. Physicians relied on treatments such as boil-lancing to bathing in vinegar as they tried to treat people with the plague. Some believed that the Black Death was a "divine punishment" - a form of retribution for sins against God
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Patient dies from the ‘Black Death' plague less than 24 hours after symptoms first emerged
Unlike the more common bubonic type, pneumonic plague infects the lungs and spreads from person to person via airborne droplets PLAGUE ALERT Patient dies from the 'Black Death' plague less than 24 hours after symptoms first emerged Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A PERSON has died from plague just 24-hours after they showed up at hospital with symptoms, health officals have said. The victim was rushed to Flagstaff Medical Center in Arizona, US, showing severe symptoms, and died the same day, an email seen by local media suggests. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 An unidentified person has died from the plague in the US An autopsy later confirmed the presence of Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes plague. Officials said the individual had pneumonic plague, the rarest and most dangerous form of the disease. Unlike the more common bubonic type, pneumonic plague infects the lungs and spreads from person to person via airborne droplets. Without urgent treatment, it can kill within just 24 hours, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warns. No further details about the patient have been released. It is the first confirmed plague death in Coconino County, in northern Arizona, since 2007, when a case was linked to contact with a dead animal carrying the infection. The Coconino County government said the risk to the public of exposure remains low. "Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the deceased," Patrice Horstman from the county's Board of Supervisors Chair, said in a statement. "We are keeping them in our thoughts during this difficult time. "Out of respect for the family, no additional information about the death will be released." The Black Death The plague is infamously responsible for the 14th-century Black Death that wiped out half of Europe. It remains on both the WHO and UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) priority pathogen lists due to its potential to cause a pandemic. Though now rare and treatable with antibiotics, plague can still be deadly. Pneumonic cases in particular are fatal in up to 90 per cent of patients if left untreated. There are several forms of plague. Bubonic plague, the most common form, is usually spread through the bite of infected fleas. 2 The disease can cause tissue to turn black and die Credit: Wikipedia The disease can be transmitted to humans either by flea bites or through direct contact with infected animals, including pet dogs and cats. The main symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, usually in the neck, groin, thighs, or armpits. These swollen nodes, called buboes, can cause surrounding tissue to turn black and die, a symptom believed to have inspired the name "Black Death." Septicemic plague occurs when the infection spreads to the bloodstream. It can develop on its own or as a complication of bubonic plague, causing symptoms like fever, abdominal pain, shock, and bleeding into the skin and organs. Pneumonic plague, the most severe form, infects the lungs and can spread rapidly between humans through airborne droplets. It often starts as bubonic or septicemic plague that has spread to the lungs if left untreated. Symptoms include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and sometimes coughing up blood. Pneumonic plague requires immediate medical attention. Last week, officials from the Coconino County Health Department reported several prairie dog deaths northeast of Flagstaff, which can be a sign of the disease. However, health officials have since confirmed that the recent human plague death is not connected to the prairie dog die-off. Risk to Brits is 'very low' The WHO estimates between 1,000 and 2,000 cases occur globally each year. On average, seven human plague cases are reported in the US each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meanwhile, plague is no longer found in the UK, and the risk of imported cases is considered 'very low,' according to government guidance. However, Covid jab scientists are developing a Black Death vaccine over fears the disease could re-emerge and kill millions. The team behind the Oxford AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine said they had made progress on an injection that could prevent bubonic plague from developing The last significant British outbreak occurred in Suffolk in 1918, though a few isolated cases have been suspected since. Recent infections have been reported in countries including the US, Peru, China, Bolivia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Russia.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
What is bubonic plague? History, causes, symptoms as Arizona's Coconino County reports first ‘Black Death' since 2007
Coconino County health officials reported on July 11 that a person in northern Arizona died from bubonic (pneumonic) plague. A northern Arizona resident dies from pneumonic plague, marking the first case in Coconino County in 16 years.(Representative image/Unsplash) According to the officials, the incident has nothing to do with a recent prairie dog die-off in the region. Authorities from Coconino County Health and Human Services stated in a statement that the person's death is the first pneumonic plague mortality in the county since 2007. The patient suffered from Yersinia pestis, the plague-causing bacteria, according to Northern Arizona Healthcare, which was determined by the Arizona Department of Health Services through rapid diagnostic testing. Also Read: Trump's frightening 7-word to Melania revealed by lip leader as they visit flood-stricken Texas; 'Look at how…' Bubonic plague history Historically, the plague has been linked to Europe's Middle Ages, when it was widespread and caused one of the bloodiest outbreaks in the continent's history. It is also called 'The Black Death.' According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, there have been an average of seven cases of bubonic plague reported every year since 2000, making instances of the disease exceedingly uncommon in the US. Deaths from the plague are much less common; and the last one occurred in the US in 2021. The majority of documented cases, however, originate from the southwestern states of Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado, Nevada, California, and southern Oregon. Bubonic plague: Causes and symptoms The CDC report stated that fleas and wild rodents are the carriers of the bacteria responsible for the plague, which is typically contracted by coming in contact with an infected animal or by being bitten by an infected rodent flea. Fever, headaches, chills, weakness, and one or more swollen, sore lymph nodes are typical symptoms, as per the CDC. Bubonic plague: Prevention If detected and treated early, the illness can be managed with appropriate antibiotic therapy and can become pneumonic (affecting the lungs) or septicemic (spreading throughout the bloodstream), stated health officials. In a bid to prevent exposure to plague, one should avoid contact with wild animals and fleas and take sick pets to the clinic.
Daily Record
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Netflix fans loving 'unhinged' period drama with 'absurd' characters starring Derry Girls star
Netflix's The Decameron, a dark comedy miniseries, has proven a hit with fans for its 'absurd' characters and 'hilarious' script. Netflix viewers are absolutely enthralled by the darkly comic miniseries The Decameron, lavishing praise on its "absurd" characters and "hilarious" dialogue. The Decameron is a captivating short series that draws inspiration from a collection of stories from 14th-century Italy penned by Giovanni Boccaccio. Amidst the backdrop of history's most devastating pandemic, The Black Death, the narrative centres around an affluent family's antics as they navigate survival with a liberal dose of sharp wit and humour. Charting the lives of both aristocrats and their servants as they retreat to a villa to luxuriate out of harm's way, the miniseries quickly descends into mayhem. With a 15 rating, The Decameron boldly embraces its dark comedic elements through explicit sexual content, coarse language, violence, and grisly details, securing its place as a fan favourite. One assessment from Rotten Tomatoes hails the programme as a "strange and amusing limited series", stating: "Characters that once seemed irredeemable are likeable, if not loveable, by the final episode. Absurd and enjoyable, the series manages to stay light while investigating the dark underbelly of humanity." Amidst the dread of the Bubonic Plague, audiences witness the characters' desperate fight for survival while asking themselves who truly 'deserves' to survive, providing a mix of mirth and morose moments, reports the Express. One viewer commented: "While the show is loosely based on a 700-year-old book, I found The Decameron fresh and engaging." They added that the plot and characters felt like they were faithful to the 1300s without being stodgy. "The characters are absolutely absurd, but that is part of their charm." Launched in 2024, the series boasts a star-studded cast, including the hilarious Tanya Reynolds from Sex Education, alongside Zosia Mamet, best known for her breakout comedic role as Shoshanna Shapiro in HBO's Girls. But the talent doesn't end there; viewers can also look forward to seeing Derry Girl's very own Saoirse-Monica Jackson portray a handmaiden, Misia, alongside Beecham House actor Amar Chadha-Patel. The dynamic casting of The Decameron has received plenty of accolades, with some even describing the characters as "unhinged". One review stated: "A period historical series that throws all the comedy and romance tropes out of the window, escalated by the enjoyable performances of a diverse cast untangled from any political narrative. This series is proof that even a story with unpredictable direction and story arcs makes for a hilariously entertaining one." Another viewer remarked: "The Decameron is a darkly funny, beautiful look at the stripped-down elements of humanity in the face of an unbearable world state." With Kathleen Jordan at the helm, the unique storyline was in safe hands, as the filmmaker had just come off the back of another Netflix hit, Teenage Bounty Hunters. The humorous historical drama covers a vast amount of territory in its brief eight-episode run, but it seems the series was never meant for an additional season and concludes where the original 14th-century tale does - making it utterly binge-worthy. If you're keen to see how this much-talked-about show unfolds, all episodes of The Decameron are available to stream on Netflix now.
