# Bubonic Plague Found In Los Angles. One woman infected, so far. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 19, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291 "2006-04-19T14:12:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/1 "2006-04-19T14:12:21Z")
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](http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/14376194.htm) More info– > **[Woman Is Treated for the Plague](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-apr-19-me-bubonic19-story.html)** > > A Los Angeles woman is being treated for bubonic plague, the first case of the age-old pestilence in the county since 1984, health officials announced Tuesday. News from the LA Fire Dept– [http://lafd.blogspot.com/2006/04/facts-about-bubonic-plague-in-los.html](http://lafd.blogspot.com/2006/04/facts-about-bubonic-plague-in-los.html) LA County Health Press Report– [http://www.ladhs.org/phcommon/public/media/mediapubdetail.cfm?unit=media&ou=dhs&prog=media&cur=cur&prid=384&row=25&start=1](http://www.ladhs.org/phcommon/public/media/mediapubdetail.cfm?unit=media&ou=dhs&prog=media&cur=cur&prid=384&row=25&start=1) OK, to Hell with bird flu, this is urgent! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/2 "2006-04-19T14:17:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/3 "2006-04-19T14:17:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/4 "2006-04-19T14:21:59Z")
There are an average of [13 cases of plague in the US each year.](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/facts.htm). Exactly why are we panicking? Is there perhaps an epidemic of rats in LA that we don’t know about? ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/5 "2006-04-19T14:26:26Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/6 "2006-04-19T14:59:16Z")
Oh, great. Now where are fire and locusts? They’ve got to be around here somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/7 "2006-04-19T15:05:54Z")
_Yersenia pestis_ was the organism I did my research on is college. It’s pretty innocuous these days. Modern drugs are very effective. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/8 "2006-04-19T15:07:35Z")
I think it would be very satisfying to call in sick to work after the doctor tells you that you have the plague. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/9 "2006-04-19T16:05:03Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Exactly why are we panicking? 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. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/10 "2006-04-19T16:19:55Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/11 "2006-04-19T16:23:01Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I think it would be very satisfying to call in sick to work after the doctor tells you that you have the plague. Yeah, but you know they’d never BELIEVE you. You’d totally have to bring in a doctor’s note. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/12 "2006-04-19T16:34:03Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![DiggitCamara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/13 "2006-04-19T16:39:53Z")
Actually, if I had a “close” relationship to sheep, I’d panic too. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/14 "2006-04-19T16:49:52Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Oh, great. Now where are fire and locusts? They’ve got to be around here somewhere. The fire should be showing up if the dry season ever starts. Especially in Malibu. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/15 "2006-04-19T16:56:17Z")
A worldwide map of sylvatic plague distribution: [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/world98.htm](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](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. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/16 "2006-04-19T17:44:57Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > 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? 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). ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/17 "2006-04-19T18:21:37Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/18 "2006-04-19T19:15:13Z")
> [@scout1222](#): > > Yeah, but you know they’d never BELIEVE you. You’d totally have to bring in a doctor’s note. Instead of a note, you could just bring in your front house door with the big black ‘X’ painted on it… ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/19 "2006-04-19T19:19:44Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I knew a guy who knew a guy who got the plague. He got better. He’s not fooling anyone, you know! ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291/20 "2006-04-19T19:22:00Z")
Now _this_ is a situation for Jack Bauer. Incidentally, when do we really start panicking over bird flu? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bubonic-plague-found-in-los-angles-one-woman-infected-so-far/353291.md?page=2)