_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: unyenke@pums.edu.ng; S. Asian J. Res. Microbiol., vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 10-16, 2023 South Asian Journal of Research in Microbiology Volume 16, Issue 1, Page 10-16, 2023; Article no.SAJRM.100499 ISSN: 2582-1989 Plague: Symptoms, Transmission, Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment Clement Ugochukwu Nyenke a* , RoseMary Kaiso Esiere b , Brenda Anyakwe Nnokam c and Rhoda Nwalozie d a Department of Medical Laboratory Science, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Rivers State, Nigeria. b Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. c Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. d Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/SAJRM/2023/v16i1297 Open Peer Review History: This journal follows the Advanced Open Peer Review policy. Identity of the Reviewers, Editor(s) and additional Reviewers, peer review comments, different versions of the manuscript, comments of the editors, etc are available here: https://www.sdiarticle5.com/review-history/100499 Received: 15/04/2023 Accepted: 18/06/2023 Published: 05/07/2023 ABSTRACT Plague is a contagious disease caused by the zoonotic bacteria, ( Yersinia pestis) but transmitted by fleas. It is found on rodents and their fleas. The most common ways for humans to contract plague are through handling a plague-infected animal or by getting bitten by a rodent flea that is carrying the pathogen. Septicemic, pneumonic, and bubonic plague are the three most prevalent types. The bubonic plague typically takes 2 to 8 days to incubate. Patients experience weakness, one or more enlarged, painful lymph nodes, headache, chills, and fever (called buboes). The bite of an infected flea results in plague, which is the most widespread type of plague. Pneumonic plague, a more severe form of bubonic plague, can progress and disseminate to the lungs. Septicemic plague incubation period isn’t exactly known but, it most likely happens within days of exposure and is Review Article