Epidemiology, Ecology and Prevention of Plague in the West Nile Region of Uganda: The Value of Long-Term Field Studies

Rebecca J. Eisen Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado;

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Linda A. Atiku Plague Unit, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda

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Russell E. Enscore Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado;

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Joseph T. Mpanga Plague Unit, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda

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Sarah Acayo Plague Unit, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda

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Paul S. Mead Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado;

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Titus Apangu Plague Unit, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda

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Brook M. Yockey Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado;

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Jeff N. Borchert Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado;

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Charles B. Beard Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado;

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Kenneth L. Gage Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado;

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Abstract.

Plague, a fleaborne rodent-associated zoonosis, is a neglected disease with most recent cases reported from east and central Africa and Madagascar. Because of its low incidence and sporadic occurrence, most of our knowledge of plague ecology, prevention, and control derives from investigations conducted in response to human cases. Long-term studies (which are uncommon) are required to generate data to support plague surveillance, prevention, and control recommendations. Here we describe a 15-year, multidisciplinary commitment to plague in the West Nile region of Uganda that led to significant advances in our understanding of where and when persons are at risk for plague infection and how to reduce morbidity and mortality. These findings provide data-driven support for several existing recommendations on plague surveillance and prevention and may be generalizable to other plague foci.

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Rebecca J. Eisen, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521. E-mail: dyn2@cdc.gov

Financial support: Funding for this review was provided by the CDC DVBD. The findings and conclusions of this study are by the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Authors’ addresses: Rebecca J. Eisen, Russell E. Enscore, Paul S. Mead, Brook M. Yockey, Jeff N. Borchert, Charles B. Beard, and Kenneth L. Gage, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, CDC, Ft. Collins, CO, E-mails: dyn2@cdc.gov, renscore@cdc.gov, pfm0@cdc.gov, bmy0@cdc.gov, gqx1@cdc.gov, cbb0@cdc.gov, and klg0@cdc.gov. Linda A. Atiku, Joseph T. Mpanga,Sarah Acayo, and Titus Apangu, Plague Unit, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda, E-mails: l_atikupraise@yahoo.com, socakabrown@yahoo.ca, joe1ug@msn.com, and apangu26@gmail.com.

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