Bubonic plague, a term synonymous with death and devastation, is making headlines again. While a recent case reportedly seen in the UK was found to be a data error, the disease still has the potential to become an global health concern. The germ Yersinia pestis, which causes the plague, continues to thrive in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Researchers are now racing to create a vaccine as the world becomes increasingly concerned about its possible return.

The most notorious plague epidemic, the Black Death, devastated Europe, Asia, and Africa in the 14th century, killing an estimated 200 million and eradicating almost 60% of Europe's population. This lethal pandemic, which was caused by a combination of bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague, changed the course of history.

A laboratory report by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) of disease cases in England and Wales for the week up to March 13 had first reported a case of bubonic plague. But UKHSA officials later explained that this was a reporting mistake due to a lab misallocation.

The bubonic plague continued to strike in waves over history, with some major outbreaks in the UK, such as the Great Plague of London in 1665 and the last major outbreak in Suffolk in 1918. Although controlled largely with antibiotics nowadays, the disease has never been eradicated.

Yersinia pestis: The Bacterium Behind the Plague

Yersinia pestis is a very virulent bacterium that can spread through a variety of pathways. The most usual method of transmission is by flea bites from rodents to humans carrying the bacteria. Recent studies, however, indicate that human ectoparasites, including lice, are also involved in transmission, especially in historical epidemics when there were few rats.

How does the Plague Spread?

Flea Bites: Infected fleas, which typically reside on rodents, transfer bacteria to humans during bites.

Direct Contact: Transmission is caused by handling infected animals or body fluids of infected animals.

Human Ectoparasites: Recent research has suggested that human lice may serve as carriers, infecting humans upon bite.

Airborne Transmission: During pneumonic plague, bacteria are transferred from individual to individual through respiratory droplets.

Types of Plague and Their Symptoms

Plague is not one disease but occurs in three principal forms:

1. Bubonic Plague

This is the most widespread form of the disease. Symptoms usually develop within 3-7 days of infection and comprise:

• High fever and chills
• Severe headaches
• Muscle pain and fatigue
• Painful swollen lymph nodes (buboes), typically in the groin, armpits, or neck

2. Septicemic Plague

This happens when the bacteria transmit through the bloodstream. Symptoms are:

• Fever and chills
• Abdominal pain and vomiting
• Sepsis developing rapidly, causing necrosis of the tissues

3. Pneumonic Plague

This is the deadliest form of the disease since it transmits through respiratory droplets, and therefore it's extremely contagious. Symptoms are:

• Severe respiratory distress
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain and shortness of breath
• Rapid development of respiratory failure

Pneumonic plague is treated promptly with antibiotics because it is life-threatening within 24 hours.

Is Plague Still a Threat?

Plague still lingers despite the improvement in medicine. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 1,000 to 2,000 plague cases are still being reported every year. Recent occurrences have been in the US, Peru, China, Bolivia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Russia.

Researchers are also concerned that Yersinia pestis can become antibiotic-resistant, which might make treatment harder. Furthermore, the possibility of bioterrorism has focused efforts on more vaccine and second-line treatment studies.

Treatment and Prevention Measures

If plague is detected early enough, it can be very easily treated with the antibiotics:

Streptomycin and Gentamicin: Pitted against Yersinia pestis, these aminoglycoside antibiotics block protein synthesis in bacteria.

Doxycycline and Ciprofloxacin: These are also employed for post-exposure prophylaxis in high-risk exposures.

Early diagnosis and prompt administration of antibiotics can lower mortality rates to below 10%.

Researchers are working hard to create a vaccine for the plague, especially because of the fear of antibiotic-resistant strains. In the past, several vaccines have been created, including:

Live-Attenuated Vaccines: Employed in certain nations, although not popularly accepted because of safety issues.

Formalin-Killed Vaccines: They were given to US troops in Vietnam but proved useless against pneumonic plague.

Newer candidates under investigation are designed to offer greater and more effective protection against all types of plague.

Are We Prepared for Another Plague Outbreak?

With re-emergence possible, health agencies worldwide are following outbreaks closely and spending money on research in hopes of averting another pandemic-sized epidemic. While medicine has better equipment with which to battle the disease today, speedy detection, public awareness, and vaccine development continue to be important to guarantee that the bubonic plague no longer turns into a global catastrophe.

Although the bubonic plague might be perceived as a thing of the past, it is a current and ongoing threat. The recent false alert in the UK is a stark reminder of its latent threat. By learning from its history, mode of transmission, and possible treatments, we can more effectively prevent future outbreaks. While scientists press on with their quest to create a vaccine, public health interventions and ongoing research will be key to containing and eventually eliminating the plague.

A group of research lab monkeys escaped captivity in Mississippi as the truck carrying them overturned on Tuesday. The monkeys were on their way to a Tulane University research center in New Orleans from the University’s Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana.

At first, officials worried the monkeys might have dangerous sicknesses, like herpes. However, Tulane University quickly said the animals were healthy and disease-free. They confirmed the monkeys had not been near any germ that could cause an illness.

Videos of the crash on Interstate 59 showed monkeys crawling in the grass next to broken wooden cages. So far, 14 monkeys have been found, 5 died, while 2 are still at large and the search continues. While the health officials assured people that there were no possible disease outbreaks, questions about ethical considerations and risks that come with animal testing have been brought up.

Why Are Monkeys Used In Medical Research?

According to the European Animal Research Association (EARA), scientists generally use animals like mice and rats much more than monkeys. However, monkeys, also called non-human primates (NHPs), are sometimes needed because their bodies are the most like human bodies. This means that for some diseases, mice and rats just aren't good enough models to show how a treatment will work in a person.

The Understanding Animal Research UK Organization explains that the most commonly used monkeys in research are Rhesus macaques, Cynomolgus macaques, and Common Marmosets.

Old-world monkeys, which are Macaques, share 94% genetic code with humans while the new-world monkeys which are Marmosets, share 91.7% genetic code with humans. The EARA expands that monkeys are especially important for research on:

• Brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
• Reproduction (like developing IVF).
• Infections where a person's body reacts very differently from a rodent's.
• New surgical techniques like organ transplants.

Even in Europe, which has strict rules to protect lab animals, experts agree that while the goal is to stop using monkeys completely, a limited number are still necessary right now for key studies on the immune system and brain diseases.

What Are The Risks Involved With Animal Research?

The Hastings Center for Bioethics explains that despite being used for research and discovering new treatments, almost 100 percent of new drugs for Alzheimer's have failed over many years. Some scientists point out that rhesus monkeys don't naturally get the full disease, the way humans do.

This brings up a moral question: Are we using these animals because science truly requires it, or is it simply the easiest option?

When animal research doesn't result in a cure for people, which is called a "translational failure", it means the lives of these conscious, feeling animals are wasted in experiments that probably won't work. This failure is also bad for humans, who face risks in trials based on weak animal data and who keep waiting for medical breakthroughs that never arrive.

Are Monkey-Based Researches Accurate?

The accuracy of these tests and research has been questioned before. According to a 2023 explainer published in the Nature, a scientist named Dr. Jonah Sacha, who studies the body's immune system and how it fights disease, bought a group of monkeys for his research on infectious diseases.

Before starting his studies, Dr. Sacha followed standard safety procedures and took chest X-rays of all the monkeys. This is like giving them a quick check-up. During this screening, he made a worrying discovery: one of the monkeys was sick.

This monkey was carrying the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB). Even though the monkey wasn't showing signs of being sick, the X-ray showed it had latent TB. "Latent" means the TB germs were hidden or sleeping inside its body, ready to cause the full, active disease later on. This finding was a major problem because TB is highly contagious and could have easily spread to the other monkeys, and potentially even to the lab workers, creating a dangerous situation.

The researchers explain that it can lead to disruptions in the experiments and unreliable data.

Can Monkeys Be Replaced For Research?

The EARA explains that monkeys are currently required to test new drug safety because no other animal or lab model, like "organs-on-a-chip," can fully replicate the human body's complexity. Banning these studies would simply move them outside the EU, as global safety rules demand them. For specific human diseases, especially in brain science, monkeys remain the only suitable model, and replacements are not yet ready.

Researchers are currently working on ways to remove the need for animals in health research, however overturning the status quo may take a few more years.

A widespread listeria outbreak traced to contaminated ready-to-eat meals has resulted in at least six deaths and 27 hospitalizations across 18 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised consumers to inspect their freezers for potentially affected items tied to the ongoing infections.

Nate’s Fine Foods, the company behind the products connected to the outbreak, issued a statement on September 29 confirming that listeria was found in some of its food products.

Listeria Outbreak Expands Across States, Linked to Ready-to-Eat Pasta Products

The number of deaths has increased in the ongoing listeria outbreak connected to ready-to-eat pasta dishes sold at major retailers including Walmart, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), seven new cases of listeria infection have been confirmed in three additional states since the previous update on September 25. The outbreak has now affected 27 people across 18 states and caused six deaths as of October 30.

Of those infected, 25 required hospitalization, and one case involved a pregnancy-related loss, the FDA noted. The FDA, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), continues to investigate the nationwide outbreak.

The investigation, which began in June, has traced the outbreak to contaminated precooked pasta produced by Nate’s Fine Foods, Inc. The tainted pasta was used in a variety of ready-to-eat items, including pasta salads, frozen meals, and deli products distributed through several major grocery chains.

What Is Listeria?

Listeria is a harmful bacterium that causes listeriosis, a serious infection spread through contaminated food. It is commonly found in soil, water, and various ready-to-eat items such as deli meats, soft cheeses, and prepackaged meals like the recently recalled pasta sold at Walmart.

Unlike most bacteria, Listeria can survive and multiply in cold environments, including refrigerators, which is why safe food storage and thorough cooking are essential, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Who Is Most at Risk from Listeria?

Although anyone can become infected, certain people face a greater risk of complications. These include pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, the infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe illness in newborns.

Symptoms of listeriosis usually appear within two weeks of eating contaminated food. The illness often starts with digestive discomfort, including nausea or diarrhea, and can progress to more severe signs such as fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance.

Full List of Recalled Products Linked to Listeria Outbreak

According to The Associated Press, the following ready-to-eat meals have been recalled due to potential Listeria contamination:

• Sprouts Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad – sold from deli or Grab & Go section; best-by dates Oct. 10–29
• Giant Eagle Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad – expiration dates Sept. 30–Oct. 7
• Kroger Deli Bowtie and Penne Pasta Salads – sold Aug. 29–Oct. 2
• Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls (9.6 oz) – best if used by Mar. 12, 13, 17, and 21, 2027
• Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo (16 oz) – best if used by Sept. 20, 24, 27, 28; Oct. 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10
• Albertsons Deli Pasta Salads – sell through dates Sept. 8–Oct. 4
• Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce (12 oz) – best-by Sept. 22, 24, 25; Sept. 29–Oct. 1
• Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine (12.3 oz) – best-by June 26 or earlier; (32.8 oz) – best-by June 27 or earlier
• Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (12.5 oz) – best-by June 19 or earlier

Donald Trump Health: Trump visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on October 10 for what he described as his “semi-annual physical.” He had already undergone a routine check-up in April. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Japan, Trump confirmed that he received an MRI during his appointment.

“I did, I got an MRI—it was perfect,” Trump said, adding that reporters would need to ask his doctors for the reason behind it. “I think they gave you very conclusive reports. Nobody has ever given reports like I did. And if I didn’t think it would be good, I wouldn’t run. The doctor said they were some of the best results for someone my age.”

What Is An MRI?

MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. It produces detailed scans of internal soft tissues and is commonly used for examining organs and detecting abnormalities.

When Did Trump Visit Walter Reed?

He returned to Walter Reed on October 10 for “advanced imaging, laboratory tests, and preventive evaluations.” During the same visit, Trump also received his flu and COVID-19 booster vaccinations. Barbabella later stated that the former president remains in “excellent overall health.”

What Health Condition Has Trump Been Diagnosed With?

Earlier this year, the White House disclosed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a common vascular disorder in which leg veins struggle to return blood to the heart properly. This condition can cause swelling and discomfort in the legs.

On October 10, Trump made another trip to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, described it as a “routine annual check-up,” even though it was his second visit to the facility in just six months. Dr. Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, did not provide details about the imaging or preventive evaluations carried out during the appointment. However, he stated that Trump’s lab results were “exceptional” and that his cardiac health appeared to be roughly 14 years younger than his actual age.

On October 27, Trump mentioned that he had undergone an undisclosed MRI scan during a previous visit to Walter Reed. Though he said the test produced “some of the best reports for the age” and “some of the best reports they’ve ever seen,” the lack of details surrounding the procedure has fueled speculation about his health.

Trump has also previously spoken about taking the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a test used to detect cognitive decline, but has repeatedly described it as a “very difficult IQ test.” It is not known whether another MoCA test was conducted during his October visit or if Trump was referring to the tests he took in April 2025 or January 2018.