Which form of plague can be spread from person to person?

The form of plague that can be spread from person to person is pneumonic plague. This occurs when the bacteria, Yersinia pestis, infects the lungs and the infection can be transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This direct transmission between individuals makes pneumonic plague highly contagious in comparison to other forms of plague.

In contrast, bubonic plague is not transmitted directly between people; it is primarily spread through flea bites or contact with infected animals. Septicemic plague, while it can occur as a progression from bubonic plague, also does not spread from person to person. Lastly, foodborne plague occurs when a person ingests infected food, which does not involve human-to-human transmission. This distinction makes pneumonic plague unique among the types and highlights the importance of identifying and isolating cases to contain outbreaks.