Main description:

Plague has erupted periodically throughout most of human history. The plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis, is transmitted by fleas found on many common mammals and through the air as victims develop respiratory symptoms and suffer from coughing spells. This easy transmission has made plague responsible for some of the highest death rates from any epidemic disease in history. ""Plague, Second Edition"" examines the disease from an epidemiological perspective. Studies of the historical European plague outbreaks, known as the Black Death, examine the role animals play in the spread of disease and the human cost of such a widespread outbreak. This revised edition includes new photographs and illustrations as well as updated statistics on modern plague outbreaks in the American Southwest. The chapters include: Historical Overview; Causes of the Plague; Cats, Rats, Prairie Dogs, and Squirrels; Diagnosis; Treatment; Prevention; The Problems of Antibiotic Resistance; Concerns for the Future; and, Hopes for the Future.