Plague Likely Killed Biologist, Say Officials

FOXNEWS ^ | 11/9/2007 | AP

[skully]

PHOENIX — A wildlife biologist at Grand Canyon National Park likely died from the plague through his exposure to wild animals that can carry the disease, the National Park Service said Friday.

Eric York, 37, was found dead in his home Nov. 2. Following his death, about 30 people who came in contact with him were given antibiotics as a precaution.

While authorities were uncertain about how York became infected, officials said that the biologist was at a greater risk to the sometimes-fatal disease through his exposure to wild rodents and mountain lions.

[goldstategop]

Nature lovers forget the wild is not at all a tame and beautiful place. It has dangers, some of them not so obvious.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Tax-chick]

Uh-oh. Those killer marmots.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

This is a little scary. If this is really plague and 37 people who contacted him have been given antibiotics, there's a possibility of a pneumonic rather than bubonic vector. This form can go person to person rather than having to go through fleas, rats, etc. Bad stuff. On the other hand, it could be hanta. Wrecked a friend of mine's lungs in a weekend but left him alive for 7 years after. Also bad stuff. "Sierra Club Nature" is only half the story.

[robomatik]

hanta virus is alive and well.

when i lived in colorado (durango for 10 years) i was afraid of mice (not just the black widows or mountain lions).

really terrible stuff.

[Southerngl]

That’s like that MRSA thing. My cousin caught it in the form of pnuemonia (she worked taking care of the elderly) and it went from her lungs to her heart. It weakened and she died at 35 waiting for a heart transplant. No heart attack, it just stopped beating while she was getting into bed. My aunt (her mother) lived across the street, had a feeling, dropped a plate and ran to her house to find her with her leg dangling from the bed. So sad and scary.