Outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, or hunting where plague-infected animals may be found, increase the risk of contracting septicemic plague, and so do certain occupations such as veterinary or other animal-related work. Diagnosis
A doctor or veterinarian will perform a physical exam which includes asking about the medical history and possible sources of exposure. The following possible test could include:

Blood samples (detecting antibodies)
Culture samples of body fluids (check for the bacteria Yersinia pestis)
Kidney and liver testing
Checking lymphatic system for signs of infection
Examining body fluids for abnormal signs
Checking for swelling
Checking for signs of dehydration
Checking for fever
Checking for lung infection

Prevention
The following steps and precautions should be used to avoid infection of the septicemic plague:
Caregivers of infected patients should wear masks, gloves, goggles and gowns
Take antibiotics if close contact with infected patient has occurred
Use insecticides throughout house
Avoid contact with dead rodents or sick cats
Set traps if mice or rats are present around the house
Do not allow family pets to roam in areas where plague is common
Flea control and treatment for animals (especially rodents)

Treatment
Starting antibiotics early is a first step in treating septicemic plague in humans. One of the following antibiotics may be used:
Streptomycin
Gentamicin
Tetracycline or Doxycycline
Chloramphenicol
CiprofloxacinLymph nodes may require draining and the patient will need close monitoring.In animals, antibiotics such as tetracycline or doxycycline can be used. Intravenous drip may be used to assist in dehydration scenarios. Flea treatment can also be used. In some cases euthanasia may be the best option for treatment and to prevent further spreading. Prognosis
Untreated septicemic plague is almost always fatal.
Plague-infested animals are found in many other countries as well, especially in developing countries where health controls are not effective. Animals that commonly carry plague bacteria are largely rodents and Leporidae, but carnivores sometimes also become infected by their prey. Prey animals are not immune to the disease, and outbreaks of various strains of plague, such as sylvatic plague, have on occasion devastated populations of black-tailed prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets.Plague has been active in black-tailed prairie dog populations since the 1960s. In the United States outbreaks only occur in the western States and they are devastating, with mortality rates near 100% because the animals have no immunity to the plague. Survivors are the ones that happened not to become infected and colonies that recover from a plague outbreak remain at risk.Because black-footed ferrets prey on black-tailed prairie dogs, wild ferret populations also fall victim to sylvatic plague. An outbreak can kill nearly 100% of ferrets in a population, and surviving ferrets commonly face starvation because the prairie dogs are their main prey. Spray-and-vaccinate campaigns have aimed at preventing the spread of the plague among these animals.Similar septicemic problems occurs in many countries across the world, especially in developing countries where spending on health systems is very low and health controls are not effective. == References ==