But interesting that bubonic plague is a bacteria too.

A.

Health Officials Issue Cat Plague Warning

POSTED: 2:42 pm PDT August 24, 2005
UPDATED: 2:56 pm PDT August 24, 2005

Keep your cats in doors, the California Department of Health is warning after a recent string of cat plague has been found in 11 California counties.

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Calif. Health Dept. Cat Plaque Warning
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This is the first time the state department of health has issued such a warning.

State residents are being warned to keep their cats indoors, for fear they may contract the bubonic plague.

The California Department of Health Services reports that the plague activity has been detected in Alpine, Butte, Glenn, Kern, Lassen, Modoc, Monterey, Nevada, Placer, Plumas and Sierra counties.

According to the health department, the plague is a highly infectious bacterial disease that is spread primarily by squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents and fleas.

Cats usually contract the disease by eating infected rodents, as well as being bitten by an infected animal.

According to Curtis Fritz, an epidemiologist with the state infectious diseases branch of the health services department, risks of cats contracting the disease in the Bay Area is relatively low, as the infections seem to be coming from the coastal and Sierra Nevada foothill regions.

Fritz said that each year the health department receives at least one to two cases. This year, the department has received four cases, prompting it to issue the advisory.

"We routinely put out a plague advisory -- it is endemic here in California and in areas with wild rodent populations," Fritz said. The department issued the warning because of the additional cases.

"This is not something people should be worried about, just consider," Fritz said.

Monterey County Health Official Dr. Hugh Stallworth said Wednesday that a cat contracting the plague is not uncommon.

Stallworth said the plague is endemic in wildlife, and is usually transferred through fleas.

While humans can contract the plague via a flea or being bit by an animal, Stallworth said it is not likely.

"This is not an epidemic," Stallworth said. "This is very typical amongst pets who still have that hunting mentality, and come in contact with animals like squirrels that have the plague."

Humans are also susceptible to the disease if an infected animal bites them, and individuals who come in contact with an infected cat should seek medical attention, according to the health department.

Since 1977, the health department has reported 23 human plague cases, with two in California resulting in death.

Symptoms for cats include high fever, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and breathing difficulty, Fritz said.

In humans, symptoms range from fever and chills to depression and painful swollen lymph nodes in the groin, armpit or neck areas, according to the department.

The plague is curable for both humans and cats, but the health department warns that if not caught early and treated the disease can become deadly.

Just today there are aprx. 6 differant articles around the country (I usually pick the best of these and post on Sat. mornings--so look for my posting).

I will definitely look for that. I guess that's what I meant to say, I'ts a qualitative thing rather than quantitative.

Something other than the standard party line...