Well, we already have Medieval religions running our country, what's a little "Black Death" among friends?
'Black Death' found in Denver squirrels
So far, 13 squirrels have been found dead in or near Denver's City Park but officials say transfer of the bubonic plague to humans is not likely.
By Patrick O'Driscoll, USA TODAY
DENVER — A rash of squirrel deaths from plague in the middle of Colorado's largest city has heightened surveillance for the deadly but curable disease.
No humans here have been infected with plague, the "Black Death" disease that killed millions in 14th-century Europe. A state hotline gets 50-75 calls daily about dead rodents. Chris Urbina, Denver's health director, says the risk of catching it "is extremely low."
One human case has been reported in the USA this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 49-year-old man in San Juan County, N.M., was hospitalized last week and is recovering. A flu-like illness that occurs most often in lymph nodes or the blood, plague is treatable with antibiotics.
Gosh we're lucky that FEMA and the CDC are all well funded and professionally staffed.
posted by Paddy @ 9:32 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I must not be sleeping well, I feel like a nap already and I've only been up 2 hours.
And don't forget our old friend hantavirus, which is why people who live out in the boonies are told to wear gloves when cleaning out their attics or other places squirrels are likely to invade.
Hoo boy - yersinia pestis on the rampage in Denver. For what sins is the plague descending on them? Though it might be more appropriate in Colorado Springs...
We have it here in Colorado Springs as well. The plague is very prevalent in the prairie dog population throughout the area. Prairie dogs tend to shy away from human contact though, so it's generally not a problem unless you spend a lot of time breathing dust around prairie dog "towns", where the dust contains large amounts of prairie dog feces. It becomes a major concern when squirrels contract the plague because they're much more likely to have human contact.
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