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Bubonic plague

(Science: microbiology) this rare bacterial infection due to yersinia pestis.

It can cause painful, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache and prostration 2-7 days after a flea bite. May also cause pneumonia and sepsis.

transmitted in rodents and humans via an infected flea bite. The incubation period is 2-10 days. Yersinia infection is now rare in western countries. Third world countries (for example south American countries) can have epidemics of yersinia.

treatment with antibiotics is necessary or most individuals will die. Even with antibiotic treatment the death rate is 5%.