Plague Cases Reported in New Mexico, California, and Arizona

Local12 ^ | Liz Bonis

[nickcarraway]

At least three cases of the plague have been reported in the United States, with infections confirmed in New Mexico, California, and Arizona.

Infectious disease specialists noted that a handful of plague cases are diagnosed each year. The bacterium responsible, Yersinia pestis, is transmitted by fleas and cycles naturally among rodents.

At least three cases of the plague have been reported in the United States, with infections confirmed in New Mexico, California, and Arizona. (WKRC, file, Provided)

"If a person is around these rodents where the fleas are, the fleas can jump off the rodents, get on the person, and if they are carrying this bacteria Yersinia pestis, the human can get plague," said Dr. Stephen Blatt, Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at TriHealth in Ohio. "It might be as simple as camping in an outdoor forest where the fleas from the rodents surround you."

Dr. Blatt explained that the plague begins with high fevers and swollen lymph nodes at the site of the flea bite.

"In rare cases, it can get in your bloodstream and because what's called sepsis or septicemic plague and people can die from that, it's a very severe illness," he said. "It can also get into the lungs, which is how in years past the pneumonic plague would spread by coughing from person to person."

Swollen lymph nodes, historically referred to as "buboes," are characteristic of bubonic plague. However, antibiotics can cure the plague if diagnosed early.

"There's a blood test, we call a blood culture, and you can find that bacteria living in the blood of these people," said Dr. Blatt. "These people typically get bad really quickly and have low blood pressures and other signs of what we call sepsis."

The recent cases serve as a reminder to seek medical attention for any illness, particularly those that worsen suddenly.

[jimtorr]

......camping in an outdoor forest......

I recommend doing all of your camping outdoors, whether in a forest or otherwise. Children are still welcome to camp out in a pillow/blanket fort, of course.

Bubonic Plague has been endemic in western states for at least the past century, probably longer. Brought here by Europeans, most likely.