Animal Exposure and Human Plague, United States, 1970–2017

Abstract

Since 1970, >50% of patients with plague in the United States had interactions with animals that might have led to infection. Among patients with pneumonic plague, nearly all had animal exposure. Improved understanding of the varied ways in which animal contact might increase risk for infection could enhance prevention messages.

Keywords

• animals
• animal exposure
• One Health
• human plague
• Yersinia pestis
• bacteria