Avoiding Omitting Flea Treatments During Camping Trips with Your Dog in the Southwestern U.S. - A Critical Matter of Health Concerns
The bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, is a disease that has a dark and tragic history dating back to the Middle Ages. This infectious disease, caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, was responsible for wiping out millions of people in Europe during the 14th century.
Today, the plague is a rare occurrence in the United States, with an average of seven cases each year. However, the disease still poses a risk, particularly in the southwestern states like Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.
The disease is mostly spread by fleas that are carried on rodents like rats, mice, and squirrels, such as prairie dogs and ground squirrels, which are common in the southwest. People can contract the illness when bitten by an infected flea, through bodily fluids, contact, or through airborne particles.
During the Middle Ages, no one was quite sure how the bubonic plague spread, but they did know it was highly contagious. Symptoms included large, swollen lymph nodes that would ooze with pus, and many of the affected bodies were left with blackened tissue from gangrene. If left untreated, the bubonic plague has a fatality rate between 30 to 100 percent.
However, with early detection and proper treatment, most patients with the bubonic plague survive. Antibiotics, discovered in the 1920s, are able to treat and cure the plague in most cases.
For those traveling with pets in the southwestern US, it is advisable to ensure they are protected with effective flea medication. Veterinary clinics in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona such as VCA Animal Hospitals, Banfield Pet Hospitals, and local specialty clinics in cities like Denver, Albuquerque, and Phoenix often offer recommended flea and tick medications to reduce the risk of bubonic plague in dogs during outdoor activities in the Southwest USA.
While the bubonic plague may seem like a relic of the past, it is a reminder of the importance of understanding and respecting the potential threats that exist in our environment. The plague is a disease that exists today and has been confirmed in the US, serving as a sobering reminder of the past and a call to remain vigilant in the present.
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