The plague story broadens a little, and some more technical data has been released. In the following story from
The Arizona Republic, the following facts are forth coming;
-A human to human transmission has not occurred since 1924.
-Eric York, 37, had two room mates
-The transmission most likely came from a mountain lion carcass
-There are no closures at the park due to York’s death.
Read the article to see these and more facts.
Biologist found dead; plague is likely cause
Corinne Purtill
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 11, 2007 12:00 AM
Pneumonic plague likely claimed the life of a wildlife biologist found dead at Grand Canyon National Park, officials said Friday.
Investigators believe that Eric York, 37, contracted the disease from a mountain lion carcass he worked with in a remote area of the park, said Matt Walburger, a consultant for the U.S. Public Health Service.
It is the first case of human plague infection recorded at the Grand Canyon, park officials said.
York was found dead Nov. 2 in his home at the canyon's South Rim. His two roommates and others who had contact with York prior to his death were placed on antibiotics as a precaution immediately after his body was found, said Robin Martin, a park spokeswoman. No one has shown any symptoms.
Pneumonic plague is one of the most deadly yet least common forms of the bacterial disease. It is most commonly transmitted to humans by flea bites and direct contact with infected animals. The last U.S. case of human-to-human transmission was in 1924.
York's job put him at much higher risk of infection than the average visitor, health officials said. There are no closures at the park as a result of his death.
"His job brought him in very close proximity with wildlife," Walburger said. "The general public would not be exposed in the same way that he would be, although we have been trying to emphasize that this is an area in northern Arizona that we know has plague."
A non-fatal case in Apache County earlier this year was Arizona's only human case of pneumonic plague since 2000. People are urged to avoid contact with animals and to seek treatment immediately if symptoms such as fever, headache or bloody saliva occur, said Craig Levy of the state Department of Health Services.
"You need to have a prompt and appropriate antibiotic treatment, or else it's pretty unforgiving," he said.
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