Plague is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Plague, or a subtype of Plague, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Ophanet, who are a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when if affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Plague as a "rare disease". More information about Plague is available from Orphanet
9 annual cases of plague notified in USA 1999 (MMWR 1999) ... see also overview of Plague.
approx 1 in 30,222,221 or 0.00% or 9 people in USA [Source statistic for calcuation: "9 annual cases of plague notified in USA 1999 (MMWR 1999)" -- see also general information about data sources]
9 per year, 0 per month, 0 per week, 0 per day, 0 per hour, 0 per minute, 0 per second. [Source statistic for calculation: "9 annual cases of plague notified in USA 1999 (MMWR 1999)" -- see also general information about data sources]
In the U.S., 1 to 40 cases reported annually (avg = 13 cases) by western states, 1971-1995
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P. (Source: excerpt from Plague Epidemiology: DVBID_1)
...
Annually, 140 cases of plague were reported (average 13 cases)
by western states in 19711995. (Source: excerpt from Facts About Plague: CDC-OC)
Globally, the World Health Organization reports 1,000 to 3,000 cases of plague every year. (Source: excerpt from CDC Plague Home Page: DVBID)
In the United States, the last urban plague epidemic occurred in Los Angeles in 1924-25. Since then, human plague in the United States has occurred as mostly scattered cases in rural areas (an average of 10 to 15 persons each year). Globally, the World Health Organization reports 1,000 to 3,000 cases of plague every year. In North America, plague is found in certain animals and their fleas from the Pacific Coast to the Great Plains, and from southwestern Canada to Mexico. Most human cases in the United States occur in two regions: 1) northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southern Colorado; and 2) California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada. Plague also exists in Africa, Asia, and South America (see map). (Source: excerpt from CDC Plague Home Page: DVBID)
The following statistics relate to the incidence of Plague:
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the prevalence and/or incidence of Plague.
Plague is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of a flea from an infected rodent host, such as a rat, squirrel, prairie dog, or hare. (See Carrier of bubonic plague.) Occasionally, transmission occurs from handling infected animals or their tissues. Bubonic plague is notorious for the historic pandemics in Europe and Asia during the Middle Ages, which in some areas killed up to two-thirds of the population. This form is rarely transmitted from person to person. However, the untreated bubonic form may progress to a secondary pneumonic form, which is transmitted by contaminated respiratory droplets (coughing) and is highly contagious. In the United States, the primary pneumonic form usually occurs after inhalation of Y. pestis in a laboratory.
Sylvatic (wild rodent) plague remains endemic in South America, the Near East, central and Southeast Asia, north central and southern Africa, Mexico, and western United States and Canada. In the United States, its incidence has been rising, a possible reflection of different bacterial strains or environmental changes that favor rodent growth in certain areas. Plague tends to occur between May and September; between October and February it usually occurs in hunters who skin wild animals. One attack confers permanent immunity.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
The term 'prevalence' of Plague usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Plague at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Plague refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Plague diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.
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