Pneumonic Plague Cluster, Uganda, 2004

Asiki, Gershim; Anywaine, Zaccheus; Yockey, Brook; Schriefer, Martin E.; Aleti, Philliam; Ogen-Odoi, Asaph; Staples, J. Erin; Sexton, Christopher; Bearden, Scott W.; Kool, J. L.

doi:10.3201/eid1203.051051

Cited by 72 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…These infections are rare but often more severe. [3][4][5] Without treatment, human fatality rates range from 50% to 60% for bubonic plague to almost 100% for pneumonic infections. 6 However, if plague is diagnosed and treated early with appropriate antibiotic therapy, outcome improves considerably.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape and Residential Variables Associated with Plague-Endemic Villages in the West Nile Region of Uganda

MacMillan¹,

Enscore²,

Ogen-Odoi³

et al. 2011

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Plague, caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis , is a severe, often fatal disease. This study focuses on the plagueendemic West Nile region of Uganda, where limited information is available regarding environmental and behavioral risk factors associated with plague infection. We conducted observational surveys of 10 randomly selected huts within historically classified case and control villages (four each) two times during the dry season of 2006 ( N = 78 case huts and N = 80 control huts), which immediately preceded a large plague outbreak. By coupling a previously published landscape-level statistical model of plague risk with this observational survey, we were able to identify potential residence-based risk factors for plague associated with huts within historic case or control villages (e.g., distance to neighboring homestead and presence of pigs near the home) and huts within areas previously predicted as elevated risk or low risk (e.g., corn and other annual crops grown near the home, water storage in the home, and processed commercial foods stored in the home). The identified variables are consistent with current ecologic theories on plague transmission dynamics. This preliminary study serves as a foundation for future case control studies in the area.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape and Residential Variables Associated with Plague-Endemic Villages in the West Nile Region of Uganda

MacMillan¹,

Enscore²,

Ogen-Odoi³

et al. 2011

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Self Cite

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“…1,4,5 Although person-to-person transmission requires close contact between infectious and susceptible persons, 6 primary pneumonic plague is a feared complication and focal outbreaks still occur. [7][8][9][10] Fatality rates for untreated infections range from 50% to 60% for bubonic plague to nearly 100% for pneumonic infections, 11,12 but outcome of infection is significantly improved by early diagnosis followed by appropriate antibiotic therapy. 13 Because of the severity of the disease and its potential for epidemic spread, plague was one of only three internationally quarantinable diseases under previous International Health Regulations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Human Risk of Exposure to Plague Bacteria in Northwestern Uganda Based on Remotely Sensed Predictors

Eisen¹,

Griffith²,

Borchert³

et al. 2010

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Plague, a life-threatening flea-borne zoonosis caused by Yersinia pestis , has most commonly been reported from eastern Africa and Madagascar in recent decades. In these regions and elsewhere, prevention and control efforts are typically targeted at fine spatial scales, yet risk maps for the disease are often presented at coarse spatial resolutions that are of limited value in allocating scarce prevention and control resources. In our study, we sought to identify sub-village level remotely sensed correlates of elevated risk of human exposure to plague bacteria and to project the model across the plague-endemic West Nile region of Uganda and into neighboring regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our model yielded an overall accuracy of 81%, with sensitivities and specificities of 89% and 71%, respectively. Risk was higher above 1,300 meters than below, and the remotely sensed covariates that were included in the model implied that localities that are wetter, with less vegetative growth and more bare soil during the dry month of January (when agricultural plots are typically fallow) pose an increased risk of plague case occurrence. Our results suggest that environmental and landscape features play a large part in classifying an area as ecologically conducive to plague activity. However, it is clear that future studies aimed at identifying behavioral and fine-scale ecological risk factors in the West Nile region are required to fully assess the risk of human exposure to Y. pestis .

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“…Y. pestis is the causative agent of plague (59), a potentially catastrophic disease due to its high mortality and dissemination following entry into the skin via arthropod vectors or into the lung via aerosol droplets (53). Plague is endemic in many geographical areas and causes an estimated annual mortality of 3,000 cases worldwide, with disease foci in Madagascar and Uganda (5,6). Y. pestis has been used as a biological weapon (31).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Polymorphisms in the lcrV Gene of Yersinia enterocolitica and Their Effect on Plague Protective Immunity

et al. 2012

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Pneumonic Plague Cluster, Uganda, 2004

Abstract: In a case cluster, pneumonic plague transmission was compatible with respiratory droplet rather than aerosol transmission.

Cited by 72 publications

References 19 publications

Landscape and Residential Variables Associated with Plague-Endemic Villages in the West Nile Region of Uganda

Landscape and Residential Variables Associated with Plague-Endemic Villages in the West Nile Region of Uganda

Assessing Human Risk of Exposure to Plague Bacteria in Northwestern Uganda Based on Remotely Sensed Predictors

Polymorphisms in the lcrV Gene of Yersinia enterocolitica and Their Effect on Plague Protective Immunity

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