MCQ on Plague

A plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, a zoonotic bacteria, usually found in small mammals and their fleas. It is transmitted between animals through fleas. Humans can be infected through the bite of infected vector fleas. Plague epidemics have occurred in Africa, Asia, and South America but most human cases since the 1990s have occurred in Africa. Almost all the cases reported in the last 20 years have occurred among people living in small towns and villages or agricultural areas rather than in larger towns and cities. People become infected from the plague when they are bitten by a flea that is infected with the plague bacteria. They can also become infected through direct contact with infected tissues or fluids while handling an animal that is sick or died due to the plague. Also, people get an infection from inhaling respiratory droplets after close contact with cats and humans with pneumonic plague.

1. Plague is caused by which bacteria?

1. 1. Clostridium
   2. Mycobacteria
   3. Yersinia Pestis
   4. None of the above

Ans. C
Explanation: Plague is a serious and fatal bacterial infection which is caused by the bacteria Yersinia Pestis.

2. Which of the following is/are different forms of the plague?

1. 1. Bubonic Plague
   2. Septicemic Plague
   3. Pneumonic Plague
   4. All the above

Ans. D
Explanation: There are three forms of plague namely Bubonic plague, Septicemic plague, and Pneumonic plague.

3. How do people get infected from the plague?

1. 1. When a person is bitten by a flea infected with the plague bacteria.
   2. People get infected through direct contact with infected tissues or fluids while handling an animal that is sick or has died from the plague.
   3. People can become infected from inhaling the respiratory droplets after close contact with cats and humans with pneumonic plague.
   4. All the above.

Ans. D
Explanation: People become infected from the plague when they are bitten by a flea that is infected with the plague bacteria. They can also become infected through direct contact with infected tissues or fluids while handling an animal that is sick or died due to the plague. Also, people get an infection from inhaling respiratory droplets after close contact with cats and humans with pneumonic plague.

4. Which type of plague is the most serious form of the disease and can be spread from person to person?

1. 1. Bubonic plague
   2. Septicemic plague
   3. Pneumonic plague
   4. None of the above

Ans. C
Explanation: Pneumonic plague is the most serious form of the disease and is the only form of plague that can be spread from person to person by infectious droplets.

5. What is the incubation period of the bubonic plague?

1. 1. 2 to 3 days
   2. 3 to 4 days
   3. 2 to 4 days
   4. 3 to 7 days

Ans. D’
Explanation: Bubonic plague affects lymph nodes and within 3 to 7 days of exposure to plague bacteria flu like-symptoms develop.

6. Which of the following is/are the symptoms of bubonic plague?

1. 1. Fever
   2. Muscle pain
   3. Swollen lymph nodes
   4. All the above

Ans. D
Explanation: The symptoms of bubonic plague are: chills, fever, seizures, a general feeling of malaise, muscle pain, appearance of smooth, painful lymph gland swelling in the groin, armpit or neck areas. The swelling is known as bubo and is commonly found at the site of the infected flea bite.

7. Which of the following is/are the symptoms of pneumonic plague?

1. 1. Severe cough
   2. Difficulty breathing
   3. Chest pain
   4. All the above

Ans. D
Explanation: Symptoms of pneumonic plague are: severe cough, difficulty breathing, fever, frothy, bloody sputum, and chest pain while breathing deeply. People become infected from the plague when they are bitten by a flea that is infected with the plague bacteria. They can also become infected through direct contact with infected tissues or fluids while handling an animal that is sick or died due to the plague.

8. What type of treatment is provided to the plague patient?

1. 1. Antibiotic
   2. Hospitalised
   3. Medically isolated
   4. All the above

Ans. D
Explanation: Plague can be successfully treated with antibiotics. Once a patient is diagnosed with plague then he or she should be hospitalized and in case of pneumonic plague, he or she should be medically isolated.

9. Which of the following preventive measures should be taken during the plague?

1. 1. Reduce rodent habitat around your home, workplace, and recreational areas.
   2. Keep fleas off of your pets by applying flea control products.
   3. Use repellent if you think you could be exposed to rodent fleas during activities such as camping, hiking, or working outdoors.
   4. All the above

Ans. D
Explanation: Reduce rodent habitat around your home, workplace, and recreational areas. By using flea control products, you can keep fleas off of your pets. If you think that you are exposed to rodent fleas then use repellent during activities like camping, hiking, etc. Do not allow dogs or cats that roam free in endemic areas to sleep on your bed, etc.
Vaccine for the plague is not available. New vaccines for plague are in the process of development but are not expected to be commercially available in the immediate future.

10. Plague is a …………

1. 1. bacterial disease
   2. infection
   3. genetic disorder
   4. None of these

Answer: A
Explanation:
A plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, a zoonotic bacteria, usually found in small mammals and their fleas. It is transmitted between animals through fleas.

11. Was covid 19 an example of a plague?

1. 1. Yes
   2. No

Ans: B
Explanation:
COVID 19 is a short-term respiratory disorder that is a viral infection that, affected and kill millions of lives in 2020.

12. Vaccine for plague is available.

1. 1. 1. True
      2. False

Answer: B
Explanation:
Vaccine for the plague is not available. New vaccines for plague are in the process of development but are not expected to be commercially available in the immediate future.