A 7-Year-Old Girl Caught Bubonic Plague On A Camping Trip

TBI ^ | Allison Jackson

[blam]

A 7-Year-Old Girl Caught Bubonic Plague On A Camping Trip

Allison Jackson, GlobalPost
Sep. 8, 2012, 3:03 PM

A seven-year-old girl is lucky to be alive after contracting the bubonic plague during a family camping trip in southwest Colorado.

Sierra Jane Downing became sick a few days after the outing in Pagosa Springs.

Her parents Darcy and Sean thought she had the flu until she started having seizures, the Associated Press reported.

They rushed her to hospital where doctors eventually diagnosed the bubonic plague—the first confirmed case of the deadly disease in Colorado since 2006.

"I didn't know what was going on. I just reacted," Sean Downing was quoted by the AP as saying.

"I thought she died."

CBS Denver reported that Downing was moved out of the intensive care unit on Monday.

"I had never seen it," Jennifer Snow, one of the treating doctors, was quoted as saying.

"You learn about it in medical school during microbiology, but I had never seen a case of it before.

“If she would have stayed at home she could have easily died within 24 to 48 hours."

Doctors believe Downing contracted the Black Death from infected fleas near a dead squirrel, 9 News reported.

The bubonic plague wiped out nearly one-third of Europe during the 14th century, but is now easily treated with antibiotics.

[imardmd1]

The bubonic plague wiped out nearly one-third of Europe during the 14th century, but is now easily treated with antibiotics. (from top article)

Until the germs become resistant, as in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Even in 1958 when my wife and I had it, penicillin wouldn't stop it -- it took tetracycline.

Now it’s three who have died from Hanta virus in Yosemite. And there are people all over the world now ill with it from traveling this summer to Yosemite.

What treatment for this virus (not stopped by antibiotics)?

[oh8eleven]

A few years ago, my neighbor hosted his nephew from Morocco so the nephew could attend college.
Shortly after arriving the nephew was diagnosed w/ TB along with my neighbor's 10 y/o son.

[netmilsmom]

>>Doctors believe Downing contracted the Black Death from infected fleas near a dead squirrel, 9 News reported.<<

Children shouldn’t play with dead things.

[blam]

" Doxy is a good drug to have for preppers."

I agree 100% and already have a sizeable stash of it. (I keep it cool, dark and dry and expect it to still be good after fifteen years)

[blam]

" Most docs will prescribe it for that if you ask. "

I don't bother the doctor any more, I get mine here.

[Jubal Harshaw]

With time, probably much less than the 15 years you are planning, tetracyclines like doxycyline degrade into toxic products. In rare cases, expired tetracylines can cause Fanconi syndrome, renal failure and, potentially, death.

Doxycyline is safer than other tetracycline in this regard, but the potential for renal damage from expired Doxycycline is something to consider when intentionally using 15 year old antibiotics.

Just buy some new stuff every now and then, already, so you don’t have to rely on 15 year old antibiotics when the time comes!

[blam]

A Doctor's Thoughts on Antibiotics, Expiration Dates, and TEOTWAWKI, by Dr. Bones

"Studies performed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that 90% of medications tested were perfectly fine to use 8-to-15 years after the expiration date. There was apparently no danger in the grand majority of cases. The FDA tested more than 100 medications, both prescription and non-prescription, and continues to study the issue today. The exceptions were mostly in liquid form (antibiotics included, but also insulin, nitroglycerine and some others). What is true is that the potency of an antibiotic could possibly decrease over time, so it is important that your medication cache is in a cool, dry place if at all possible. Refrigeration is an excellent method to maintain the full potency of many drugs."

[Pharmboy]

From here:

"There is a lot of evidence that suggests that Yersinia pestis may not have been the causative agent for the Black Death, and it was likely something else, and something else that is out there right now," said Brian Bossak, an environmental health scientist at Georgia Southern University.

He is among those who suspect a hemorrhagic virus — which causes bleeding and fever, like ebola — swept through 14th-century Europe. The high lethality, rapid transmission and periodic resurgences seen in the Black Death are characteristic of a virus, according to Bossak, who frames this as a question in urgent need of resolution.

[Jubal Harshaw]

Thanks for a link to the reference you were reading. Please allow me to point out that that same reference includes this line:

NOTE: It should be emphasized that FISH-CYCLINE [and other tetracycline antibiotics of various names] can become toxic after its expiration date, unlike most of the other medications listed.

Doxycyline is a tetracyline antibiotic.

You are, of course, free to consume whatever 15 year old batch of chemicals you have, for whatever reason you want. Just be aware that there may be risks to consuming that 15 year old batch. Those risks may include death, though that would be very rare. Those risks can be lessened by spending $4.00 to get a new, undegraded, more pure batch for your consumption. Just something to consider.

[BlueDragon]

[ridesthemiles]

Striped ground squirrels all over the Sierra Nevada have been diagnosed with bubonic plague. There are millions of the little pesky things. They make tunnels the Viet Cong would be proud of.

There are warning signs everywhere to NOT touch them or try to pick one up or to try to feed one.

[blam]

"Those risks can be lessened by spending $4.00 to get a new, undegraded, more pure batch for your consumption. Just something to consider. "

Thanks.

Good advice and easy to heed.

[S.O.S121.500]

This is not surprising news. There has always been plague in New Mexico.
AND northern Arizona plus southern Utah.

[S.O.S121.500]

Oops-should have read all the posts....bad here.

[outofstyle]

Thanks for that link!

[vetvetdoug]

I keep a bottle of around 500 100mg doxycycline tablets back and when it gets within a year of the expiration I just use it and replace it with another. Remember, veterinarians use the same drugs and in large quantities. Maybe you should ask your vet for a large number, tell him/her why and skip the physician? I used to be cautious about selling drugs OTC but now the CO-ops, Tractor supply, and feed stores sell the same things without any restrictions.

[blam]

Skip the doctor and the vet. Click on the link in post #25.

[Bride Of Old Sarge]

PING!