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How it spreads: Botulism cannot spread person to person. People comeinto contact with the naturally formed bacteria by eating something (foodborne- usually due to improper storage or home canning methods),through a cut in the skin (wound), or a small number of infants (typicallyless than a year old) can eat bacterial spores that get into intestines (infantbotulism). The only human-made form has been known to be transmittedfrom monkeys to veterinarians and lab workers (inhalation).Signs & Symptoms: Depends on type of botulism you’re exposed to andthe degree of exposure to the toxin but generally ...• Foodborne - rare - signs usually appear in 6 to 36 hours• Wound - first signs usually appear in 4 to 8 days• Infant botulism - signs usually appear in 6 to 36 hours• Inhalation - first signs usually appear in 72 hoursEarly symptoms for ALL forms of botulism include double vision, blurredvision, drooping eyelids, hard to speak or swallow, dry mouth and fatigue(very tired). Muscle weakness starts at top of body and goes down causingnerve damage that results in paralysis of face, head, throat, chest, arms andlegs -- could possibly lead to death since breathing muscles do not work.Treatment: There is an antitoxin for botulism, but it must be treated asquickly as possible since it may or may not reverse effects of the diseasebut can stop further paralysis. Antibiotics are not effective against toxins.Plague - is caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis that affects animalsand humans. Y. pestis is found in rodents and their fleas in many areas ofthe world, including the U.S. The bacterium is easily killed by sunlight anddrying but could live up to an hour when released into the air depending onweather conditions.How it spreads: There is only one cause of plague but three different typesof illness the infection can cause. One type of infection comes from the biteof an infected flea or gets in through a cut in the skin by touching materialinfected with bacterium (bubonic), another can be spread through the airand inhaled (pneumonic), and a third occurs when plague bacteria multipliesin the blood of a person already infected with plague (septicemic).Signs & Symptoms: Plague types may occur separately or in combinationwith each other ... and all start with fever, headache, weakness, chills (possiblypuking and diarrhea) usually within 1 to 10 days of being exposed.• Bubonic - most common - also develop swollen, tenderlymph glands (called buboes). Does not spread person toperson.• Pneumonic - least common but most deadly -- could bewww.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325101