Many Americans are in danger

The plague comes in several versions, depending on which body part the bacteria invade. When a flea bites a person, the individual typically develops what’s called bubonic plague. In this case, the telltale sign is one or more swollen and painful lymph nodes, known as buboes. (The word “bubonic” comes from the Greek boubon, which means groin, because some people have swollen lymph nodes in their groin.) Doctors can diagnose the disease by taking a sample from the person’s blood or lymph nodes and then submitting the sample to a lab for testing.