Microbes as Weapons (Part 2) Flashcards
(24 cards)
what has made it possible for smallpox to be eradicated from the world?
only has human hosts
incubation period: 7-17 days
smallpox
incubation period of smallpox
7-17 days
symptoms of smallpox
high fever, aches; rash appears on mucosa of mouth, spreads to arms and then trunk
rash becomes vesicular and then pustular; crusts then form.
30% mortality due to severe immune resonse from viremia
transmission: respiratory droplets, contact, airborne
small pox
how is smallpox transmitted?
droplets, contact, airborne (active for 2 days)
symptoms: high fever, aches
smallpox
symptoms: rash appears on mucosa of the mouth, spreads to arms and then trunk
smallpox
how to prevent the spread of smallpox?
isolation
therapy: none, supportive care only
smallpox
smallpox therapy
none, supportive care only
smallpox cure
no cure!
smallpox vaccine
stockpiled
smallpox treatment
no treatment!
no cure, no treatment, no therapy
smallpox
what type of vaccine is the smallpox vaccine?
live attenuated
vaccine effective post-exposure if given within 4 days. what disease and why?
smallpox, because of the long incubation period
characteristics of Yersinia pestis
gram negative rod
can look like a safety pin
transmission of bubonic plague
NOT PERSON TO PERSON
flea transmits Y. pestis to a human
bacterium is carried to a lymph
bubo develops within days
Y. pestis begins interfering with the immune response
multiplying bacteria spill into bloodstream (septicemic plague), endotoxin –> shock
how to treat bubonic plague?
antibiotics
pneumonic plague transmission
person to person
transmitted Y pestis full “armed”
fatality rate of bubonic plague?
50-75%
fatality rate of pneumonic plague
approx. 100%
how to prevent pneumonic plague
no vaccine
post-exposure prophylactic antibiotic therapy
