Question

‘Plague’ is transmitted by

• A. house fly
• B. tse-tse fly
• C. rat flea
• D. mosquito

Answer 1

The correct option is C

rat flea

The correct option is C:

Explanation of the correct answer:

1. Humans can be infected with the plague germs in the following ways: Flea bites are a common occurrence.
2. Plague bacteria are spread mostly by the biting of an infected flea. Plague is primarily found in rats and fleas that feed on rats.
3. Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.

Explanation of the incorrect answer:

Option A:

1. The microorganisms that cause shigellosis, typhoid fever, E. coli, and cholera can all be transmitted by the common housefly.
2. When the fly settles, the disease-causing chemicals can be delivered by the body hairs or by the tarsi, which are then transmitted to food or surfaces.

Option B:

1. Microparasites of the species Trypanosoma brucei cause African Trypanosomiasis, popularly known as "sleeping sickness."
2. The tsetse fly (Glossina species), which is only found in Sub-Saharan Africa, transmits the disease.

Option D:

1. Mosquito-borne diseases are those that are spread by a mosquito that has been infected.
2. The Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue fever, and malaria are all diseases spread by mosquitos.

Final answer: ‘Plague’ is transmitted by rat flea.