A woman in Los Angeles California was hospitalized April 13th.
She has been confirmed as infected with Plague.
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/14376194.htm
More info–
News from the LA Fire Dept–
http://lafd.blogspot.com/2006/04/facts-about-bubonic-plague-in-los.html
LA County Health Press Report–
OK, to Hell with bird flu, this is urgent! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Meh.
It sounds scary, but the plague isn’t really that dangerous any more. Modern drugs can treat it and people who die from it are generally ones who are weakened from other illnesses or age. You’re not going to see an epidemic from this.
Well, I guess it COULD mutate. Then we’d all be fucked.
Nothing to be concerned about. The plague is always floating around the Southwestern desert somewhere. Sure, we haven’t had a case since 1984, but we usually got a case every couple of years or so before that. It’s controllable and not contagious unless she develops pneumonic.
Let that be a lesson to people, however. No matter how cute they are, tree rats aren’t cuddly pets.
There are an average of 13 cases of plague in the US each year.. Exactly why are we panicking? Is there perhaps an epidemic of rats in LA that we don’t know about?
Not terribly unusual where I’m from. We’ve had a human Plague case in the NM county right next to us (flea bites from skinning rabbits). We’ve also had 1 Hantavirus case in my TX county this year, and also 1 horse with rabies in the same NM county as the Plague case.
I think that given the hygine practices of today, a human Plague epidemic isn’t that likely.
Oh, great. Now where are fire and locusts? They’ve got to be around here somewhere.
Yersenia pestis was the organism I did my research on is college. It’s pretty innocuous these days. Modern drugs are very effective.
I think it would be very satisfying to call in sick to work after the doctor tells you that you have the plague.
Maybe there’s a remote chance it could mutate to a form carried by vicious harpy eagles, which will roam the country pecking innocent school children who will pass it on to others. Soon the accursed will walk the streets, seeking uninfected prey.
Or so I’m hoping.
Well, at least it’s LA. So if it happens, they can make a movie about it.
Yeah, but you know they’d never BELIEVE you. You’d totally have to bring in a doctor’s note.
The patient on House last night had the plague. It’s not all that rare.
What I want to know is, what are my chances of picking it up from my “always in” cats? We’re moving to NM eventually, and I want to be sure I take the proper precautions. Do those fleas infect house pets very often? Will it kill my cats?
Actually, if I had a “close” relationship to sheep, I’d panic too. 
The fire should be showing up if the dry season ever starts. Especially in Malibu.
A worldwide map of sylvatic plague distribution:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/world98.htm
A map of U.S. plague cases over ~20 year period
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/plagwest.htm
As can be seen plague is endemic in the western United States. In California ( where one survey in the late 1990’s found it in 18 of 35 counties ) it is generally associated with ground squirrels, especially the ubiquitous Beechy Ground Squirrel, but a lot of rodents and other mammals can get it. The last major urban outbreak in the U.S. was also in Los Angeles, in the 1920’s.
As noted this isn’t unusual, nor a cause for unusual alarm.
I think you mostly have to worry only if your cats are regularly coming into contact with rats or other rodents. It’s possible that your cats could get it, but not terribly likely if they’re indoor cats (unless, of course, your house is infested with rodents, and then you’ve got other problems).
I knew a guy who knew a guy who got the plague. He got better. This is a non-story.
Please feel free to return to your regluarly scheduled hyperventilating over bird flu.
Instead of a note, you could just bring in your front house door with the big black ‘X’ painted on it…
He’s not fooling anyone, you know!
Now this is a situation for Jack Bauer.
Incidentally, when do we really start panicking over bird flu?