Monday, January 21, 2008

Bubonic plague Is Still Around.

According to my Newspaper, the plague that had devastated medieval Europe hundreds of years back, is now re-emerging and spreading into more countries recently, with fears it will soon move into Africa.

It seems that the Bacteria, “Yersinia Pestis”, otherwise known as the Bubonic Plague or Black Death, has not only never been totally eradicated but is in fact making a bit of a comeback with up to 200 people a year for the last 20 years, succumbing to it.

As well as causing Bubonic Plague, usually spread by fleas and rodents; Yersinia Pestis also causes the more dangerous Pneumonic plague which, is also highly contagious, and spread by coughing or sneezing. Both forms can kill in days if not treated with antibiotics. And thus can spread very quickly, particularly in over crowded populations with poor health conditions to start with.

As it has not made it to Australia to my knowledge, I am not too worried about succumbing to the Plague any time shortly, but I couldn’t help wondering how many other dangerous things there are still out there, that we are just not giving enough care and attention too.

It seems to me that often we don’t start worrying about some potentially dangerous thing or problem, until it is too late and once given a head start, it spreads rapidly like the Plague.

So today’s message is just a reminder to us all, myself included, whilst not becoming paranoid, to re-assess what we are currently doing and how we do it. Checking for all health and safety measures that will hopefully prevent future pain and suffering and possible death. Again, what say you?

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