Plague

[Mike]

Bubonic Plague Closes Utah Campground
Tuesday, May 16, 2006


STORIES
•
Human Case of Bubonic Plague Reported in Los Angeles
•
Mice Carrying Plague Vanish From Lab
SALT LAKE CITY — 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.

 

[ranchwife]

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
well, isn't this just LOVELY!!!!???? :shock: :shock:
first bird flu and now our blast from the past (mr. bubonic, himself) pays his respects!! :?

 

[Northern Rancher]

Probably Canadian chipmunks-eagerly awaiting R-Calfs spin on this one.

 

[Manitoba_Rancher]

News release (AP) The US border has been closed to all Canadian rodents- mice,rats, chipmunks and squirrels. R-laugh will be in a Billings coourt this afternoon with hope they can keep the border closed forever........ :wink:

 

[IL Rancher]

Actually if I remember correctly it was Chinese rats that brought it over... Great, more imports from China... We had to outsource the infection because our union rats demanded to much money :shock:

 

[Mrs.Greg]

Well if it was rats I guess Rcalf can't blame that on cluster area Alberta....we're rat free

But seriously,thats not good,the plauge :shock: :!:

 

[theHiredMansWife]

Plague has been in prairie dog populations for years...

The big deal was that this was in a national park, which obviously is where people tend to concentrate in larger numbers than in surrounding areas.

 

[Soapweed]

If the do-gooders didn't have to save and promote the over-population of all these blasted varmits, things would be different. When common sense is outlawed, only outlaws will have common sense. :wink:

 

[ranch hand]

Plague has been in prairie dog populations for years...

The big deal was that this was in a national park, which obviously is where people tend to concentrate in larger numbers than in surrounding areas.

We get excited, time to party when the plague shows up in this area. Will take our praire dog towns for miles around. Some even try to borrow dogs from a infected town to infest their towns.

 

[Denny]

If the do-gooders didn't have to save and promote the over-population of all these blasted varmits, things would be different. When common sense is outlawed, only outlaws will have common sense. :wink:

Does that make you an outlaw??? :nod:

 

[Soapweed]

If the do-gooders didn't have to save and promote the over-population of all these blasted varmits, things would be different. When common sense is outlawed, only outlaws will have common sense. :wink:

Does that make you an outlaw??? :nod:

Yup! :wink:

Say, Denny, I ran onto your neighbor a couple weeks ago. Art Noble was down this way visiting, and we had a nice chat one Saturday evening at a fortieth wedding anniversary celebration for some friends. Looks like that northern Minnesota climate is agreeing with him.

 

[Denny]

If the do-gooders didn't have to save and promote the over-population of all these blasted varmits, things would be different. When common sense is outlawed, only outlaws will have common sense. :wink:

Does that make you an outlaw??? :nod:

Yup! :wink:

Say, Denny, I ran onto your neighbor a couple weeks ago. Art Noble was down this way visiting, and we had a nice chat one Saturday evening at a fortieth wedding anniversary celebration for some friends. Looks like that northern Minnesota climate is agreeing with him.

He had told me that he met you.He was at my branding a week ago.I built one of your calf traps.I had a pile of doggers show up so it did'nt see much use but seemed to work fine.I think we had it buried to low as the calves could squirm around a bit.I am going to take it to a branding in 2 weeks the are useally short on doggers so it may get a workout yet.

 

[theHiredMansWife]

Some even try to borrow dogs from a infected town to infest their towns.

Too true.

Whenever someone starts bemoaning the decline of the loveable prairie dog, I always offer them some of ours. As many as you can catch! They're yours!
Repopulate to your hearts content, so long as it's not around here. :wink: