It makes you want to move to Colorado......

[formercia]

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007May22/0,4670,ZooPlague,00.html

Monkey Dies From Plague at Denver Zoo

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

By ERIC W. BOLIN, Associated Press Writer



DENVER — A capuchin monkey at the Denver Zoo has died of plague and officials are trying to prevent an epidemic by isolating the primates and treating them with antibiotics.

Zoo officials learned late Friday that the 8-year-old animal that died Wednesday tested positive for the flea-borne disease, according to a zoo statement.

More than a dozen squirrels and at least one rabbit have been found dead of plague in the City Park area just east of downtown, which includes a golf course, the zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature of Science.

The monkey, which was acting lethargic, was found dead by a zookeeper. Zoo veterinarian Dr. David Kenny suspects the primate ate the carcass of an infected dead squirrel.

Plague is common in Colorado during this time of year, but it usually occurs in rural parts of the state, where it's sometimes discovered when entire prairie dog colonies die off.

[hippiechick]

1. Did the monkey have some undercooked prairie dog for lunch?

:shrug: Jus' askin' ...

[originalpckelly]

3. I believe it was a squirrel imported from China.

At first they suspected melamine. :spank:

[originalpckelly]

2. At least we don't have a lot of bugs like Texas and other points south.

All I ever worry about in this area is if this should develop some resistance to the antibiotics used to treat it. Then we'd be up shit creek without a paddle.

[enki23]

4. most western and southwestern states have the occasional plague cases

this is mostly noteworthy only in that it happened at a zoo.

[rasputin1952]

5. I wonder what strain of Plague it is? Bubonic, Pneumonic...

a new strain?

Kind of pays to know what we might be dealing with...yeseria pestis can be a real drag in the body...many died of Black Death in less than 24 hrs.

[formercia]

6. US Army Surplus

The Military used to test biological agents in the West during the Cold War. It wouldn't surprise me if genetic testing found a link.

[rasputin1952]

7. Possible...

:(

[librechik]

9. Bubonic thank god

it's endemic to the area, but rare. Apparently a bunch of our squirrels got it and are passing it on to other animals. No humans infected yet.

[rasputin1952]

10. This is as good as it gets as far as a Plague goes....

antibiotics, pain relievers...Bubonic can be treated pretty easily...pneumonic kills w/in hrs...:(

[TwilightGardener]

8. I'm sad about this--don't want any more excuses to kill prairie dogs.

[hlthe2b]

11. Good.... don't come.... (we used to have to rely on fear of snow)

:)

Plague is endemic in parts of Colorado-- minimal risk to humans unless they handle sick squirrels or camp next to a flea-infested prairie dog colony... A nuisance that we live with but can be prevented, just like mosquito or tick-born disease in other parts of the country..