http://www.newsday.com/ap/rnmpnt0f.htm, Woman contacts bubonic plague from mice.

-- Notforlong (Fsur@aol.com), January 26, 2000

Answers

so bubonic plague is NOT caused by ufo's?(hehehe)

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), January 26, 2000.

Notforlong,

Bubonic plague is caused by a gram - bacteria (Y. pestis) that is transmitted from an infected flea on a rodent to humans in about 85% of cases. Over the last 40 years in the U.S. have had an annual incidence of between 40 cases per year to no cases per year. Overall death rate ~16%. Antibiotics for Rx, Streptomycin, Tetracycline and chloramphenicol.

Moral: Low risk, and avoid rat-infested areas.

Frank

P.S. the above factual information (that is, above the "Moral" line) was taken with fair use intent from Harrison's text of Internal Medicine. -F

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.com), January 26, 2000.

Ring o` ring o` rosies pocket full of posies ashes ashes we all fall dead. This song was sung by children throughout Europe during the Black "Bubonic" Plague of the 1600`s.

-- NoJo (RSKeiper@aol.com), January 26, 2000.