Surveillance and Control of Bubonic Plague in the United States
Barnes AM. 1982. Surveillance and Control of Bubonic Plague in the United States. Symposia of the Zoological Society of London. 50:237 - 270
At our present state of knowledge, plague outbreaks among wild rodents are not predictable as to time and location. Our primary objective is to develop data that will enable us to detect and, and ultimately to predict epizootic outbreaks and geographic expansions that may lead to human exposure. A collaborative surveillance program involving longitudinal serologic surveys of wild canivore and domestic dog populations is a key program element. Another important program element is consistent liaison with state and local health departments and an informal surveillance network of biologically-oriented public agencies and individuals. Rodent surveys and control actions are undertaken on the basis of carnivore data indicating epizootic plague in areas of human risk. Data from these studies have reconfirmed and somewhat expanded the known geographic distribution of Y. pestis activity and identified rodent/flea complexes important in epizootic amplification and transmission of plague to humans. Carnivore data are presented and human risk factors associated with plague in major epizootic foci are discussed along with strategies for control to prevent human infection.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Barnes, Allan
- Date of Issue
- 1984
- Units
- BRCA
- Keywords
- Bubonic Plague, flea transmitted disease, Plague, surveillance and control, Yersinia pestis