Microbes in the Novel Introduction
In the book The Plague by Albert Camus, the author gives a narration through a character known as Dr. Rieux about an outbreak of a plague pandemic in the Algerian city of Oran. The underlying bacteria that causes the discussed plague bacillus is known as Yersinia Pestis. The condition that is described by this book is real and has occurred throughout human history. There have been three significant outbreaks that have often seemed to change the course of civilization due to the effects they bring. This bacterium causing the plague was mostly found in the rat flea. A bite from the inflected fleas always led to one being infected by this disease. By then, there were two major types of the plague; bubonic and pneumonic plague. In the book, the prevalent type that is depicted is the bubonic plague characterized by high fever, swellings on the body, etc. The disease was also characterized by a higher infection and mortality rate in the city where the story is set. Infected individuals were only identified according to the symptoms that they displayed. Those who died of other symptoms during that time – as stated by the book, were always unspecified.
In the book, the author states that when people started dying and showing symptoms of this disease, there was confusion, and some thought it was an outbreak of cholera. People seemed to assume and continued with their normal lives as they knew it would disappear with the temperate climates. This was there were periodic outbreaks; however, the increase in the cases of infections and deaths led to lockdown measures in the city.
In the book, the science seemed to be on point. The book is seemed to be set up at a period when there is no advanced technology, as is the case now. The book seemed factual as Dr, Reux was concerned that the disease could have been fueled by the poor sanitation in the city of Oran. It is described that rats were often being found dead in the streets and houses of the city. Some suggested that it was a prank or that the rats were dying due to a lack of food. However, the rats were infected by fleas and were dying of this particular bacterium. It quite evident that throughout the history of this plague, poor sanitation was a factor that was attributed to the faster spread of the disease. Many deaths were being reported, and the book was right to acknowledge that treating this bacterium was hard since the cure failed. By then, they were using the antiplague serum, which also seemed to be ineffective in curing the disease as people kept on dying. This could be true as most bacteria always become resistant to the treatment administered. This something that might happen in science even in the future where bacteria slowly become resistant to the medication that commonly treats them.
The book also revealed that Dr. Riex and others came to understand the realities of diseases and hence isolated those who were infected by the plague. This was a move that is very logical even in science today when it comes to pandemics. From the onset of the symptoms displayed and the increase in deaths, the doctor knew that it was a reoccurrence of the plague. Even after the end of the plague pandemic, he knew that there was a possibility of others coming too. This is true since various pandemic have often followed after the occurrence of the plagues.
I can give the book a rating of about 4 out of 5. I like the book because it depicted the pandemic and the microbe that caused it. It depicted the various factors – such as poor sanitation, that fueled the spread and caused many deaths. It showed the different scientific methods, such as the use of serums that were applied to help cure the disease. It also acknowledged the fact the bacteria would remain dormant despite disappearing; and had a possibility of occurring once again in human history.
Reference
Camus, Albert. The plague. Vintage, 2012.