Health authorities in China’s Inner Mongolia have confirmed that a third instance of the plague has been reported, after two people contracted it in Beijing earlier this month. The health commission said in a statement that a 55-year old man had contracted bubonic plague after eating a wild rabbit during a hunting trip. The man was subsequently quarantined after the diagnosis, along with 28 people who he came into contact with.

However, the other 28 people have showed no signs or symptoms of the plague. The other two contractors caught pneumonic plague, with the difference being bubonic effects the lymph nodes whereas pneumonic effects the lungs. Fan Mengguang, deputy director of Inner Mongolia’s disease prevention and control centre, told the media that the latest case is “isolated and unrelated” to the cases in Beijing. However, with three confirmed diagnoses, the public is beginning to panic over a potential outbreak.

Yersina pestis causes the plague

The plague wiped out half of Europe in the 14th century

According to AFP, one user on Weibo, which is essentially China’s version of Twitter, posted: “I just want to know how these two came to Beijing?? By train, airplane, or did they drive themselves?” Another reportedly said: ”Bird flu in the year of the rooster... swine fever in the year of the pig. Next year is the year of the rat...the plague is coming.” The pneumonic plague is just one of three diseases caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium. Pneumonic plague is known for its effects on the respiratory system, as it causes dangerous lung infections. READ MORE: China plague outbreak confirmed: Two diagnosed with disease in Beijing

Plague can be easily vaccinated

Yersinia pestis also causes bubonic plague - otherwise known as the ‘black death - which affects lymph nodes, and septicemic plague, which affects the blood. Of the three plague variants, pneumonic is the most virulent and is fatal if left untreated. In the 14th century the Black Death spread across the Mediterranean and Europe, killing up to 60 percent of Europe’s total population. More than 100 million people may have perished - reducing the world population from an estimated 450 million down to 350–375 million. DON'T MISS

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A 14th century plague doctor

According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the US, the plague is treatable with antibiotics. The CDC advises the earlier people seek treatment, the more likely it is they will make a full recovery. Those who come into close contact with plague victims may need preventative antibiotic therapy.

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