Plague: an occupational disease

Abstract

Plague is a zoonosis caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, transmitted mainly by
the bites of infected fleas. Distributed worldwide, it is a potential threat to human
populations due to the persistence of the infection among wild rodents and to its
high potential for epidemics. In view of the changes in the epidemiological profiles
of infectious diseases and socio-cultural changes in different parts of the world,
an accurate perception of the professionals at risk of contamination is essential, in
order to protect themselves and to prevent the spread of the disease and subsequent
morbidity and mortality among human populations.