ID#: 23566
Caption:
This historic July 1966 image, was captured in Santa Fe, New Mexico, during a plague investigation. This middle-aged female resident had contracted plague, and had recovered. The patient had been bitten by fleas on her legs (see PHIL 23565), which was felt to be the method by which she had been infected by the plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis. The woman had noted a die-off of chipmunks, Eutamias quadrivittatus, in her yard. A chipmunk nest was discovered in the garage ceiling. The patient also disposed of a dead rock squirrel, Citellus variegatus. However, during the squirrel’s removal, she had noticed amber fleas hopping on her ankles, and was bitten. The fleas were suspected as being, Oropsylla montana flea, formerly known as, Diamanus montanus. Though the woman immediately showered, her plague infection became symptomatic a few days thereafter.
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Content Provider(s): CDC/ H.E. Stark
Creation Date: 1966
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