Pulmonary plague: how it spreads, why it's deadly, and why antibiotics can cure it

Pulmonary plague, a bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis, remains dangerous because it can transmit from person to person via airborne droplets, making it the most epidemiologically threatening form of the disease. However, it is now treatable with antibiotics if diagnosed and treated early. Unlike bubonic plague, which spreads through flea bites, the pulmonary form spreads through coughing or sneezing. Its incubation period is one to several days, with symptoms progressing rapidly to severe respiratory distress and potential death within days without treatment. The WHO recommends starting treatment immediately upon suspicion. The bacterium persists in natural reservoirs among wild rodents and fleas across all continents except Australia, including regions in Siberia and the Altai. In August 2026, Russian and Mongolian scientists confirmed an active cross-border plague focus, with Mongolia reporting sporadic human cases linked to marmot hunting.