Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 212, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1911 — RATS CAUSE PLAGUE [ARTICLE]

RATS CAUSE PLAGUE

First Cases Appeared. Nearly Ten Months Ago. Infected Rodents Imported With Grain Held Responsible—War of Destruction Is Being Strongly Urged. London.—Three reports of the extremes! importance, dealing with the suspected cases of human plague In East Suffolk, and more especially with an epidemic of plague in rats, were Issued the other day by the local government board with a covering letter by Dr. Newsholme, the medical officer of the board. The history of the outbreak, which has been the subject of many articles in the Dally Mall, is as follows: On October 2, 1910, four cases of pneumonic plague were notified to the board at Preston in Suffolk. All four persons affected died, and it is a reasonable inference," says Dr. Newsholme. “that the cases may have been plague; and there is a further possibility that two previous limited outbreaks of illness In the same part of East Suffolk may also have been plague.”

On Investigation being made it became clear that rats were infected. Rats and hares found dead were bacterlologlcally examined and proved to have had plague. At first the Infected animals were found only in the portion of the Samford rural district between the Orwell and the Stour. But In the middle of November the Woodbridge, Cosford' and Tendring districts were also affected.

“From the first It was realized that grave significance attached to the presence of a focus of plague in rodents In East Suffolk," Dr. Newsholme says, and the local authorities were urged to show activity in meeting the danger. Other sanitary authorities in England were warned, but though rats from various parts were examined none of them were found to be Infected. In the Infected area rat destruction has been hampered by the failure of some owners of property to co-operate. It is suggested that the

question may arise whether the local authorities may not have to compel “the assistance of individual owners and occupiers in destroying rats on their premises and rendering their premises and food stores fairly safe against Invasion by rats." In December, 1910, a systematic examination of rats from a belt of country round the infected districts was carried out Altogether 6,071 rats were examined and none showed traces of plague. Rat fleas from the infected area were also examined, and it was found that the number per rat is small. From 568 rats only 584 fleas were obtained, and of these about half were of a kind that does not. bite man. The other kind readily bites man and was found in many cases to be Infected. The test was made In November, and it is not certain whether the comparative freedom of the English rat from fleas holds good in the summer. The probable channel by which plague was introduced was infected rats, Imported with foreign grain. But it is pointed out that no other instance, with the possible exception of Glasgow, has been known in this

country of the spread of plague from ship rats beyond the limits of a port. This Is reassuring, the more so as If there had been any such spread It would have been Indicated by excessive - mortality In rats. "The evidence appears to Indicate that rat plague has been present for several years In East Suffolk. Nevertheless, during that time only three very limited outbreaks of probable human plague have occurred, showing that under the conditions there existent human Infection Is an exceptional and, as It were, an accidental phenomenon. As Is well known, the possibilities of spread of plague from rats to man are . much smaller In this country than In India.” Bubonic plague Is spread by rat fleas. Pneumonic plague, however, can spread from human being to human being, especially where the domestic conditions are uncleanly. The precaution of regarding all cases of pneumonia in a suspected district as plague, obtaining bacteriological analysis and securing isolation is recommended. “A considerable outbreak of human plague might be anticipated,’’ Dr. Newsholme concludes, "if such failure to recognize early cases occurred in a district In which the conditions favored spread by direct infection by means of fleas."