Reports and papers on suspected cases of human plague in East Suffolk and on an epizootic of plague in rodents.

  • Great Britain. Local Government Board.
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Reports and papers on suspected cases of human plague in East Suffolk and on an epizootic of plague in rodents. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    liubonio plague, as is well known, spreads through the inter- mediation of fleas. Pneumonic plague, however, spreads easily from person to person, and in two of the outbreaks of probable human plague in Suffolk, the attacks were chiefly pneumonic in type. These human cases occurred under conditions of domestic uncleanliness; and given the infection of the first patient by rats’ fleas to such an extent as to determine a septicsemic or l)neumonic attack, infection may spread directly from person to person, or indirectly by means of the human fleas, which infest houses under uncleanly conditions. Such possibilities represent the chief danger of spread of plague among human beings. Apart from improvement of domestic sanitation, which is a valuable safeguard, the most important precaution is that all cases of obscure disease simulating influenza or “ blood poison- ing,” and all cases of pneumonia in a suspected district should be regarded as being possibly plague, that means should be taken for obtaining a bacteriological diagnosis, and that effectual isola- tion should be secured pending the completion of this test. A considerable outbreak of human plague might be anticipated if such failure to recognise early cases occurred in a district in which the conditions favoured spread by direct infection from I)atient to patient, or by indirect infection by means of fleas. The lines of action required for exterminating rat plague are set out in my memorandum, which is re])riiited on pages 71-77. During the remainder of this year the Board’s extended investi- gations will enable it to be said whether the foci of rat plague still continue, and will be made the occasion for further vigorous action against rats if infected districts are discovered. I am. Sir, Your obedient Servant, Arthur Newsiiolme, Medical Officer. May, 1910.