Plague Deaths in China

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There are reports today of two deaths from pneumonic plague in western China. Pneumonic plague is the deadliest and least common form of plague. Still, the odds that this dreaded disease will make it across oceans to ravage your hometown are just about zero. Reuters has a nice Q&A here to explain the different types of plague and where they come from. The most important message to remember, however, is that plague (as long as it’s caught early) can be effectively treated with antibiotics. And that means a disaster on the scale of the Black Death is basically impossible.