Researcher plague died of plague

Dr. Malcolm Casadaban is the first US scientist who died of the plague after 50 years of studying this pathogenic bacterium - a form that no longer causes human illness.

Dr. Casadaban

Dr. Casadaban, 60, is infected while studying the weak form of bubonic plague - a form that is harmless to humans. He is investigating the sequence of events that occurs when a person is weakened by the bacteria Yersinia Pestis.

The plague bacterium kills at least a third of Europe's population during the 14th century. Today, more than 2,000 people worldwide still suffer from the disease every year.

However, the weakened bacteria have never caused illness in humans, and strict safety measures against deadly bacteria do not apply to this type of bacteria.

Yersinia Pestis bacteria causes plague.

Dr. Casadaban's family has a history of iron-pigmented pigmentation - the amount of iron accumulated in humans is too much, making the plague susceptible to the plague, the autopsy results said. When injecting iron into the inner mouse and allowing them to be exposed to the plague bacteria, it is more likely to be attacked by bacteria.

One in 400 people has iron pigmentation, but half of them do not know their condition until they meet Yersinia Pestis.

Thanks to the early detection and treatment, currently only 10% of cases are plague dead, the World Health Organization said.