Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Plague, a bacterial disease that is endemic to the Western United States, is most famous for the destruction it caused during the Middle Ages when it killed over half the population of Europe.  Today, plague still infects people around the world and there are a handful of cases each year here in the U.S.  However, this year where there are normally 3-7 cases, there have been 12 cases since the beginning of April. Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report? Response: One of the main reasons CDC issued our report on this year’s plague cases was because we want to remind clinicians and their patients that plague should be considered as a diagnosis if the symptoms, travel history, and exposure fit.  Most cases occur between late spring and early fall, so there might still be more cases this year.  It’s good to be aware of three things: where cases occur, how the disease is spread, and how to prevent it.

1. Most cases occur in the Western United States, and so far this year the cases have been from Arizona (two), California (one), Colorado (four), Georgia (one, but exposed in California), New Mexico (two), Oregon (one), and Utah (one).
2. Plague is spread when fleas become infected by feeding on rodents, such as chipmunks, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, mice, and other mammals that are infected with the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis. Fleas then spread the plague bacteria to humans and other mammals during their next feeding.
3. Most important, CDC recommends that people who live in or travel to the Western United States wear long pants when possible and use insect repellent on clothing and skin when outside. People also should avoid direct contact with ill or dead animals and never feed squirrels, chipmunks, or otherwild rodents. In addition, pet owners should regularly use flea control products on their pets and consult a veterinarian if their pet is ill. Rodent habitat can be reduced around the home by removing brush, clutter, and potential rodent food sources such as garbage or pet food. If you have any symptoms of plague, please see a clinician and let them know where you’ve traveled and if you’ve had contact with rodents.

(more…)