Plague: Introduction

This introductory level online course aims to equip frontline responders with introductory level knowledge to manage outbreaks of plague. By the end of this course participants should be able to describe the transmission cycle of the disease, explain the difference between bubonic plague and pneumonic plague, and describe the public health concerns of plague.

**Please note: This course was developed in 2018. For the latest updates, please refer to the relevant health topics on the WHO website.

Course information

Overview: Plague is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, found in small mammals. It is transmitted between animals by their fleas. The bacteria, the animal reservoir and the vector in a given area are collectively called a “plague natural focus”. Humans can become infected by being bitten by infected fleas direct contact with infected fluids or tissue from a host inhalation of respiratory droplet.

This course provides a general introduction to the disease through downloadable presentations, transcripts, and quizzes that can be reviewed at your own pace.

Learning objective: By the end of this course participants should be able to:

• describe the transmission cycle of the disease;
• explain the difference between bubonic plague and pneumonic plague;
• describe the public health concerns of plague

Course duration: Approximately 1 hour.

Certificates: A Confirmation of Participation is available to participants who complete at least 80% of the course materials.

Course contents

• Plague:

  Plague is a zoonotic disease with severe clinical presentations caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.