A 35-year-old woman from rural Madagascar presents with a painful left inguinal bubo that is suppurating and about to burst. She has associated high f...

Question

A 35-year-old woman from rural Madagascar presents with a painful left inguinal bubo that is suppurating and about to burst. She has associated high fever and prostration. Y. pestis is cultured. Before the bubo burst, what risk does the patient pose to healthcare workers?

Accepted Answer

Bubonic plague itself is NOT directly transmissible person-to-person; the risk to healthcare workers is low with standard precautions UNLESS pneumonic plague develops, at which point respiratory transmission occurs

Answer

Bubonic plague is highly transmissible through respiratory droplets

Answer

All forms of plague are airborne

Answer

Plague is only transmitted by fleas; healthcare workers have zero risk

Answer

Plague is transmitted through food

uk-dtmh MCQ (SBA): Bubonic Plague Transmissibility

A 35-year-old woman from rural Madagascar presents with a painful left inguinal bubo that is suppurating and about to burst. She has associated high fever and prostration. Y. pestis is cultured. Before the bubo burst, what risk does the patient pose to healthcare workers?