Northern Arizona Plague Outbreak

[Engineer61 19]

There is apparently a Plague outbreak in the Prarie Dog population in the Doney Park area of Northern Arizona.

 

http://www.azdailysun.com/news/local/9ca0a5f8-80ad-11e0-82bf-001cc4c002e0.html

 

Though it might be nice to post this with all the Scout camping trips coming up.

[AnniePoo 13]

Plague is endemic in the southwest United States, particularly in rodents, including prairie dogs. There have been hundreds of human pneumonic plague cases in the SW in the last half century. It's pretty safe to assume that if you look for Yersinia pestis (bacteria that causes plague) in rodents or fleas on rodents in these areas, you will find it.

 

Interesting fact - a few of these human cases have likely been caused by domestic cats that ate rodents.

 

Persons who live in these areas or travel to these areas should minimize their contact with rodents or rodent-eating carnivores, and should also be aware of the symptoms of plague.