At the new blog Puff the Mutant Dragon, there's a great pair of posts looking at the history of plague, with a focus on outbreaks that have occurred here in the US.
Bubonic Plague in America, Part I: LA Outbreak
Bubonic Plague in America, Part II: Undercover Science
I'll also link them in my Black Plague series.
More like this
The plague was unbelievably deadly and disastrous in Europe during the 1300-1700s, but it is somewhat more surprising that the plague still claims a number of lives across the modern world.
This week is plague week at Retrospectacle, and every day I will be posting something about the Black Plague.
Did Yersinia pestis really cause Black Plague? Part 1: Objections to Y. pestis causation
Thanks for the link to the plague post, much appreciated!
Just discovered your blog. I'm not in epidemiology--I'm in astronomy--but you make me want to go back in time and change my mind! Or at least split my time (impossible, just like going back in time).
Sarah, what a nice compliment. Mutant Dragon, my pleasure--great pair of posts. Looking forward to more!
One thing that is overlooked in this "problem" is the sheer stupidity of some people. As a long distance hiker, I've seen the signs by the NPS and USFS warning the populace not to feed wildlife. When in Yellowstone, I berated a couple for feeding the chipmunks ("but they're so cute" was the reply). I pointed out they also could carry plague or hantavirus.
Sure enough, the SF Chronicle Day In Pictures celebrates this stupidity. Even if you don't feed the animals, the animals don't know that fact. And tourons (tourists and morons) who feed them put everyone at risk by their behavior.
I told the ranger, she observed them feeding the animal, and then issued the standard $150 ticket. They may not fear the plague but they will fear a hit to their wallet.