Plague

Cause:

Yersinia pestis, a bacteria. Most human cases in the United States occur in two regions: 1) northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southern Colorado; and 2) California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada.

Occurrence in Animals:

Predominantly wild rodents (rats, squirrels, chipmunk, prairie dogs, mice), but can also occur in domestic cats. It also occurs with less frequency in deer mice and voles. Since fleas bite both people and animals, especially cats and rodents, an infected flea can pass plague to animals or to people.

Source of Infection in Animals:

Blood and saliva

Transmission:

Bubonic form requires a vector (a biting insect -- flea bites); bites and scratches of infected animals or their body fluids; aerosolized (airborne) droplets of contaminated body fluids.

Observable Signs of Infection:

Animals:

Buboes (abscesses)
Frequently fatal (animal found dead)

Humans:

Bubonic (75-97% of all cases) ? fever, chills, muscle ache, headache, swollen lymph nodes (in armpits, groin, and neck), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Pneumonic (less than 14% of all cases) - fever, chills, muscle ache, headache, cough, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Precautions:

Good personal hygiene
- WASH HANDS after handling animals or being in their environment
- No eating, drinking, smoking, etc., around animals or their environments
Yersinia pestis can persist for a few months in the environment.
Handle potentially infected animals, and animals found dead, with gloves.
Wear long sleeves and gloves for field studies.
Treat wild-caught rodents (live or dead) for ectoparasites (fleas).
If employees/students develop febrile illness after accidental exposure, they should immediately seek medical attention.