After Coronavirus, Now Bubonic Plague Reported In China

A bubonic plague smear, prepared from a lymph removed from an adenopathic lymph node of a plague patient

After coronavirus (Covid-19), now a new disease – Bubonic Plague – has been reported in a city of northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China. Authorities have asked citizens to improve self-protection awareness and ability.

According to a news report, a city in northern China sounded an alert after a suspected case of bubonic plague was reported. A level 3 warning of plague prevention and control came out of Bayannur, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The suspected case was reported by a hospital in Bayannur.

The warning period will apparently continue until the end of 2020. The local health authority has confirmed the case and said there is a risk of a human plague epidemic spreading in the city.

This, by the way, wasn’t the first suspected case of this newly reported plague.

Earlier this month, two other adults were found to be affected. They are brothers and are being tested at two separate hospitals. The brothers reportedly ate marmot meat. Marmot is a type of rodent.

A total of 146 people, who they’ve been in contact with, have been isolated and are being treated at local hospitals.

Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease that is spread by flies living on wild rodents such as marmots. It can kill an adult in less than 24 hours if not treated in time.

Last year, a couple died in the western Mongolian province of Bayan-Ulgii after eating raw marmot meat.