sylvatic plague

Sylvatic plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It is primarily a disease of rodents, with humans becoming infected accidentally. The bacterium is typically transmitted to humans through the bite of infected fleas that have fed on infected rodents. It can also spread through direct contact with contaminated animal tissues or bodily fluids, or from scratches and bites from infected animals like domestic cats.

Plague has caused devastating epidemics throughout history, most notably the Black Death in the 14th century. While modern antibiotics and public health measures have significantly reduced its impact, plague still exists in wild rodent populations and can occasionally spread to humans, particularly in rural areas. The disease can manifest in three forms: bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic.2