Colorado Plague Outbreak Traced Back To Pet Dog

Researchers have traced a 2014 outbreak of plague in Colorado back to a pit bull, according to a new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A Colorado man identified only as “Patient A” fell ill in late June and was incorrectly diagnosed with pneumonia, according to Friday's report. More than a week later, doctors determined his fever, coughing and bloody mucus were caused by the bacteria Yersinia Pestis, which causes plague. Doctors diagnosed the man with pneumonic plague, meaning the infection was in his lungs. It took 23 days in the hospital for him to recover, according to the report. In the meantime, investigators with Colorado’s Tri-County Health Department found that the man’s dog, a 2-year-old American pit bull terrier, had recently been put to sleep after coming down with a severe fever and bloody cough. Two female veterinary workers who had contact with the dog fell ill with fevers and coughing a few days later. Tests of the dog’s lung and liver tissues came back positive for plague. While Patient A was still in the hospital, a third woman who had "extended close contact" with the patient and also handled the dog’s body was diagnosed with pneumonic plague. None of the three women were as severely sick as Patient A, and all four patients survived. Colorado health officials don’t know whether the third woman caught the plague from Patient A or from the dog, Dr. John Douglas, director of Colorado's Tri-County Health Dep...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news