Health A-Z

Medical Content Created by the Faculty of the
Harvard Medical School

Plague (Yersinia Pestis)

Preparation

If your doctor suspects you might have plague, he or she will ask whether you:

• Recently noticed a flea bite

• Have been around wild rodents

• Have recently traveled to an area of the world where plague is known to occur.

• Have been in contact with a dead animal

• Have been treating a pet that has been extremely ill.

To confirm the diagnosis, blood or other body fluids can be tested to look for evidence of Y. pestis bacteria infection.