[Aracelis]

"Prairie dogs and other rodents in the West are big carriers of the plague..."

As an interesting aside...my job this summer took me to a region where Prairie Dogs were plentiful. Being the naturally inquisitive person I am (and thinking Prairie Dogs are oh so cute), I approached one of their "holes". I was appalled at the thick cloud of fleas swarming around the entrance to their underground dwelling. No wonder we still get cases of Plague. I had never seen so many fleas in one place at one time.

[eastforker]

OK all you guys,fleas carry the plague,that I understand,they are carriers not generators.Where does it come from?How does it regenerate and does it kill the rodent host?If it is that prevalent out west why don't we see more human cases?Answers please from some of our resident doctors.

[livius]

the thick cloud of fleas swarming around the entrance to their underground dwelling

I know - prairie dogs are sort of cute - from a distance! A great distance...