Y. pestis and plaque Plaque is an infection of wild rodents, transmitted from one rodent to another and occasionally from rodents to humans by the bites of fleas the pandemics of black death? with millions of fatalities The ability of this organism to be transmitted by aerosol and the severity and high mortality associated with pneumonic plaque, make Y pestis a potential biological weaponY. pestis and plaque • Plaque is an infection of wild rodents, transmitted from one rodent to another and occasionally from rodents to humans by the bites of fleas. • the pandemics of “black death” with millions of fatalities • The ability of this organism to be transmitted by aerosol, and the severity and high mortality associated with pneumonic plaque, make Y. pestis a potential biological weapon