This information is provided to you regarding the threat to you and your community should there be a bioterrorist attack with Plague as the agent of infection.

Plague is a disease caused by a bacteria named Yersinia pestis. This disease is usually transmitted by fleas(bubonic plague), resulting in blood and lymph system infections. The more likely bioterrorism related outbreak would be airborne in nature.(Pneumonic Plague).

PNUEMONIC PLAGUE TRANSFER IS POSSIBLE FROM PERSON TO PERSON VIA SPRAYS OF AEROSOL DROPLETS FROM COUGHING, SNEEZING, TALKING. Plague is normally transmitted from infected rodents to man via fleas.

Symptoms include:

Fever cough chest pain, coughing up of blood and chest x-ray with evidence of pneumonia. Incubation period is 1-3 days.

How to protect yourself- large droplet sprays are transmitted by coughing, have anyone coughing cover their mouth, wear a mask to protect yourself, the aerosols are heavy enough that they will drop if you are greater than 3 feet away from the person.

EXPOSURE

If you have been exposed to a spray gently remove your clothing, place in a plastic bag and shower with soap and water. The risk from your clothing is very small. Protect others by covering your mouth when you cough and stay greater than three feet away from others.

Don't panic, the local and state health departments and the federal government (CDC) will be assisting you with the antibiotics you would need.