Plague found at Utah Campground

[scoutldr]

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) -- A campground at Natural Bridges National Monument has been closed because of bubonic plague detected among field mice and chipmunks.

Plague also has been found this spring in rodent populations at Mesa Verde National Park and Colorado National Monument.

National Park Service officials said there never has been a reported human case of bubonic plague originating from the parks or national monuments.

"We come down on the conservative side when it comes to closing campgrounds," said Joe Winkelmaier of the U.S. Public Health Service. "We just like to be sure when it comes to plague."

Several weeks ago, park rangers noticed a large number of dead field mice at Natural Bridges, about 40 miles west of Blanding. Chief Ranger Ralph Jones showed that tests indicated they died from the plague.

Rangers plan to insecticides to kill fleas in the campground area. Humans usually contract bubonic plague after being bitten by fleas that have bitten infected rodents. The campground could be reopened as soon as next week.

Plague occurs throughout the West, but is concentrated in the Four Corners area of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. An average of 18 cases involving humans are reported each year in the United States, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one in seven victims die.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

[anarchist]

hello fellow scouter from the Commonwealth....

 

what was the point of the post?

General Info? Warning?

 

Plague is alive and well...in the U.S. (HAs been for-nearly-ever). There are usually a few cases (10-50?) in the south west U.S. each year (either bubonic, septicemic, or pneumonic). Usually associated with bites from "infected" fleas.

 

Also worry about Hanatavirus (sp?) also spread by rodents (usually vector is breathed dust containing dropping particles)...

 

Campers get "it" from being in close contact with camping cabins, platforms and "hard shelters" frequented or home to rodents...

Best, safest advice- don't sleep in "them" unless they are freshly cleaned (and cleaned well)! For trail hikers who "just have to" use them (shelters or platforms)... Actually pitch your floored tent in the shelter...failing that disturb as little dust as possible and put your ground cloth down before you lay down your sleeping gear-(here you are trying to put a barrier between your nose and 'floor dust').

 

Bet your thinking, Great!... another thing for moms to panic over....

Anarchist

[Trevorum]

Yep, the "Black Death", which wiped out 30% of Europe in the 14th century is flourishing in our American Southwest. The good news is that the fatality rate is fairly low (15%).

 

Unlike rabies, which is always 100% fatal if untreated.

 

A young fellow in our troop is currently undergoing rabies shots (ouch!) due to exposure to a bat. Unbelievably, his science teacher brought a dead bat into the classroom last week for examination. Colossally bad idea. And this was while a teenager in Houston was hospitalized for exposure to a bat (tragically, he did not get treatment soon enough and died last Friday).

 

Our Scout (who is doing fine, although sore from all the shots) spoke to the troop on Monday night and reminded them NEVER to touch or approach a dead bat. Please tell your scouts the same.