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American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 119, No. 2: 261-273
Copyright © 1984 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

other

EVIDENCE FOR THE EXTINCTION OF PLAGUE IN HAWAII

P. QUENTIN TOMICH1, ALLAN M. BARNES2, WILLIAM S. DEVICK1,3, HARRY H. HIGA4 and GLENN E. HAAS1,5

1Department of Health, State of Hawaii Honokaa, HI
2Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control Fort Collins, CO
4Department of Health, State of Hawaii Honolulu, HI

3Present address: Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.

Tomich, P. Q. (Dept. of Health, Honokaa, Hi 96727), A. M. Barnes, W. S. Devick, H. H. Hlga and G. E. Haas. Evidence for the extinction of plague in Hawaii. Am J Epidemiol 1984; 119: 261–73.

Plague (infection by Yerslnla pestis) was present in Hawaii for the period 1899–1957 and caused at least 370 fatalities. The first infections came from immigrant commensal rats, probably Rattus rattus and Rattus norveglcus, on ships from the Orient Both species were already established in Hawaii and became the widespread local carriers of plague, supplemented by Rattus ex-ulans which had colonized the islands in ancient Polynesian times. The flea Xenopsylla vexabltls arrived with R. exulans, and its near relative Xenopsylla cheopls accompanied the ship rats. Following each introduction to port cities, plague subsided after a few years but remained active in rural areas of two islands for nearly 50 years. in Hamakua District on Hawaii, the demise of plague was characterized by its repeated terminal migrations from persistent foci, a rapid decline in expected numbers of infected rats and fleas, and negative serologlc evidence from rodent reservoirs and mongooses in massive surveys. The simple blotlc systema bacterium, three rodents, and two fleas appeared unable to maintain the disease over time. improved sanitation, mechanized agriculture, gradients in rainfall and temperature, and the collapse of reservoir and vector populations during drought are cited as probable factors in the extinction of plague.

ecology; fleas; islands; mortality; rats; serology; Yerslnla pestis


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