Medicine:Urban plague
Urban plague is an infectious disease among rodent species that live in close association with humans in urban areas. It is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis which is the same bacterium that causes bubonic and pneumonic plague in humans. Plague was first introduced into the United States in 1900 by rat–infested steamships that had sailed from affected areas, mostly from Asia. Urban plague spread from urban rats to rural rodent species, especially among prairie dogs in the western United States.[1][2]
Vector reservoir
Common vectors for urban plague are house mice, black rats, and Norway rats.[3]
Transmission
Urban plague can be spread from animals to humans via flea bites and handling of infected fluids and tissues. Human to human infection occurs from droplets that contain plague bacteria which are produced when an infected person coughs.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ "A Plague Epizootic In The Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys Ludovicianus)". Jwildlifedis.org. 2006-01-01. http://www.jwildlifedis.org/content/42/1/74.full. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
- ↑ "CDC - Maps & Statistics - Plague". Cdc.gov. 2013-04-23. https://www.cdc.gov/plague/maps/. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
- ↑ Cockrum, E. Lendell, Rabies, Lyme Diseases, Hanta Virus and other Animal-Borne Human Diseases in the United States and Canada. Fisher Books, Tucson, Arizona. 1997. Page 36.
- ↑ "CDC - Ecology & Transmission - Plague". Cdc.gov. 2019-07-31. https://www.cdc.gov/plague/transmission/index.html. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
External links
- Black Death on In Our Time at the BBC
- Black Death at BBC
Urban Rodent-Borne Diseases and Public Health
Urban rodent-borne diseases are infectious diseases transmitted from rodents to humans in urban environments. These diseases represent a significant public health concern, particularly in densely populated cities where human–animal interactions are more frequent.[1]
Rodents such as rats and mice serve as reservoirs for various pathogens, contributing to the spread of zoonotic diseases through direct contact, contamination of food and water, and environmental exposure.[2]
Leptospirosis is one of the most widespread rodent-borne diseases and is estimated to cause over 1 million cases and approximately 60,000 deaths annually worldwide.[3]
From a One Health perspective, these diseases highlight the interconnected roles of human, animal, and environmental health. Poor sanitation, urban overcrowding, and climate-related factors such as flooding contribute to increased rodent populations and disease transmission.[4]
Prevention strategies include improving waste management, implementing rodent control programs, enhancing urban infrastructure, and promoting public health education.[5]"
References
- ↑ Meerburg BG, Singleton GR, Kijlstra A. Rodent-borne diseases and their risks for public health. Critical Reviews in Microbiology. 2009.
- ↑ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rodents and Disease.
- ↑ Costa F et al. Global morbidity and mortality of leptospirosis. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2015.
- ↑ World Health Organization (WHO).
- ↑ CDC; WHO.
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