Plagues, Pestilences and Diseases
Canada: The Black Plague found in Saskatchewan gopher populations
Published On Fri Aug 13 2010
The Canadian Press
VAL MARIE, SASK.—The plague has been found amongst the prairie dog
populations in Saskatchewan’s Grasslands National Park, but staff say
the risk the notorious disease poses to people is “very low.”
The plague, which killed millions during the Middle Ages, is a disease
caused by a strain of bacteria that can affect both animals and humans.
It’s naturally occurring throughout the southern Prairies in wildlife
such as ground squirrels and mice and can be transmitted to humans
through the bite of an infected flea.
“It’s very rare for a human to intercept an infected flea,” said Pat
Fargey, a species at risk specialist with Parks Canada. “The risk is
quite low, but because we have had this positive prairie dog, we really
want to make people aware.”
Researchers found numerous animal’s carcasses last month and it was
sent them away for testing. That’s standard procedure with any
unexplained death in the park, Fargey said.
Staff are now monitoring the prairie dog colonies for any further signs
of the disease. Fargey said he’s not aware whether Grasslands has ever
had a plague outbreak in its colonies, but he’s seen cases in the
United States where up to 90 per cent of the animals in one group were
killed by the disease.
The park recommends people not walk through the prairie dog colonies
and that they tuck their pants into their socks and use insect
repellent on their shoes. Some areas have also been closed to dogs and
other domestic pets.
The plague is extremely rare in humans and is usually treatable if
diagnosed in time. The last case of a human contracting the plague in
Canada was in 1939, but there are 10 to 15 cases every year in the
southwestern United States.
Two deaths were attributed to plague in the United States in 1996.
There have been several outbreaks of plague in human history. It has
killed 200 million people around the world. In 14th century Europe,
plague — or Black Death, as it was known — killed 30 per cent of the
European population by some estimates.
A bacterium called Yersinia pestis is the only cause of plague, but it
can cause different types of illness.
The bubonic plague is most common. The infection appears in the lymph
nodes, causing them to swell and become painful.
Pneumonic plague is the most deadly. It can be spread through coughs or
sneezes, or through contact with infected body fluids.
Symptoms are flu-like and can include vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal
pain.
The Canadian Press