鼠疫由耶尔森菌引起，在中世纪造成大规模死亡，其致命潜力至今未减[1]。美国俄勒冈州患者保罗·盖洛德在被猫咬伤后感染了鼠疫，最初被医生误诊为猫抓病[1]。未经治疗的鼠疫致死率接近100%[1]，其中肺鼠疫患者若不接受治疗，通常在出现首次症状后仅能存活48小时[1]。
鼠疫共有三种传播形式：腺鼠疫由跳蚤传播、败血性鼠疫通过哺乳动物咬伤传播、肺鼠疫则经空气飞沫传播[1]。2010年至2015年间全球报告约3000例鼠疫病例，导致超过500人死亡[1]。欧洲最后一次记录的跳蚤传播鼠疫发生在1945年的法国和意大利[1]。
快速诊断和及时治疗对患者生存至关重要[1]。目前有效的抗生素治疗手段已可用，但诊断延迟成为关键瓶颈[1]。罗伯特·科赫研究所正与马达加斯加等地区合作，致力于提高实验室检测能力[1]。
Plague continues to pose a significant threat to human health, with a mortality potential equivalent to that of the Middle Ages.[1] The disease is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, and without treatment carries a fatality rate approaching 100 percent.[1]
The case of Paul Gallod from Oregon demonstrates how the infection can still emerge in modern settings.[1] After being bitten by a cat, Gallod contracted plague, though his condition was initially misdiagnosed as cat scratch disease.[1] Plague manifests in three distinct forms: bubonic plague transmitted by fleas, septicemic plague resulting from bites of infected mammals, and pneumonic plague spread through airborne droplets.[1] Pneumonic plague is particularly dangerous, as patients typically survive only 48 hours after symptom onset without treatment.[1]
Globally, approximately 3,000 plague cases were reported between 2010 and 2015, resulting in over 500 deaths.[1] In Europe, the last documented case of flea-transmitted plague occurred in France and Italy in 1945.[1] While effective antibiotic treatments are available, delayed diagnosis remains a critical barrier to survival.[1] The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is working with regions including Madagascar to enhance laboratory diagnostic capacity in response to ongoing plague risks.[1]