Lessons Learned from Historic Plague Epidemics
a ise ses & D P s r u e o v ti e Journal of Infectious Diseases & c n Boire et al., J Anc Dis Prev Rem 2013, 2:2 e t f i v n I DOI: 10.4172/2329-8731.1000114 e f M o e l d a i n ISSN: 2329-8731 Preventive Medicine c r i u n o e J Review Article Open Access Lessons Learned from Historic Plague Epidemics: The Relevance of an Ancient Disease in Modern Times Nicholas A Boire1*, Victoria Avery A Riedel2, Nicole M Parrish1 and Stefan Riedel1,3 1The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 2The Bryn Mawr School, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 3Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA Abstract Plague has been without doubt one of the most important and devastating epidemic diseases of mankind. During the past decade, this disease has received much attention because of its potential use as an agent of biowarfare and bioterrorism. However, while it is easy to forget its importance in the 21st century and view the disease only as a historic curiosity, relegating it to the sidelines of infectious diseases, plague is clearly an important and re-emerging infectious disease. In today’s world, it is easy to focus on its potential use as a bioweapon, however, one must also consider that there is still much to learn about the pathogenicity and enzoonotic transmission cycles connected to the natural occurrence of this disease. Plague is still an important, naturally occurring disease as it was 1,000 years ago.
[Show full text]