Sciensano hosts the National Reference Laboratory for Yersinia pestis. Sciensano is also responsible for the epidemiological surveillance of plague in Belgium.
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Plague is a human and animal disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. It is notorious for causing the Black Death pandemic in the 14th century. The disease has not occurred in Western Europe in more than 80 years, but it is still found in some parts of the world.
3 main forms of human plague are distinguished. In general symptoms include fever, headache, chills, and weakness. Other symptoms are dependent on the form of the disease:
Humans get infected through the bite of infected fleas, through unprotected contact with infectious body fluids or contaminated materials or by inhalation of respiratory droplets from a patient with pneumonic plague.
In Belgium, plague is diagnosed at the National Reference Laboratory, located at Sciensano’s Zoonotic bacterial diseases unit. The NRL is responsible for providing specific information regarding sample handling, type of matrices, and pertinent tests. It performs isolation from clinical samples and molecular diagnosis (PCR).
Plague remains present in many regions of the world, particularly in Africa (in rural areas), but also in the Far East, Central Asia, and North and South America. Since the 1990s, most human cases have occurred in Africa. The 3 most endemic countries are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Peru. No cases have been reported in Belgium in more than 80 years.
Early diagnosis and subsequent treatment are essential for survival and reduction of complications. Antibiotics and supportive therapy are effective if started on time.
Plague in animals usually occurs as a flea-borne disease of small wild animals such as rodents. It is believed that plague bacteria circulate in low levels in rodent populations. These rodents and their fleas are long-term reservoirs for the bacteria. Also larger animals such as for example dogs, cats and foxes can become infected and develop clinical signs.