OSTIE

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION(WHO)

PREVENTION AND CONTROL MEASURES FOR STRUGGLING AGAINST THE PLAGUE

1. PREVENTION AND CONTROL MEASURES

Preventive measures include informing people when zoonotic plague is present in their environment and advising them to take precautions against flea bites and not to handle animal carcasses. The most rapid and effective method for controlling fleas is to apply an appropriate insecticide formulated as a dust or low-volume spray. People, especially health workers, should also avoid direct contact with infected tissues such as buboes, or close exposure to patients with pneumonic plague.

Important prevention and control measures are primarily intended to reduce human transmission and avoid increase in epidemic. These include:

• Advising the public to take all necessary precautions against flea bites and to not pick up or touch dead animals
• Implementing measures to control rodents hosts of Yersinia pestis (plague bacillus), especially rats
• Avoiding direct contact with infected tissues such as buboes, or close exposure to patients with pneumonic plague
• Early presentation to health care - go to the closest health center in the event of suspicious symptoms
• Health workers and people who are in direct contact with pneumonic plague patients must wear personal protective equipment
• Health workers should receive a chemoprophylaxis with antibiotics as long as they are exposed
• Safe management and burial of deceased cases
2. TREATMENT

Rapid diagnosis and treatment is essential to reduce complications and fatality. Effective treatment methods enable plague patients to be cured, if diagnosed in time. These methods include the administration of antibiotics as Aminoglycosides, Fluoroquinolones, Sulfonamides and supportive therapy.