Rock squirrels

Rock squirrel, Spermophilus variegatus Bone Liver... 

Fatality 18-mo-old child died of pneumonic plague rock squirrels and their fleas had taken up residence in the ducts of the on-base house. 

Plague has been one of the worst human pandemics throughout history. Its use as a biological warfare agent, however, is not known. The disease is attributed to the bacteria Yersinia pestis, and caused mostly from bites of rat flea. The animals that transmit this disease are mostly black rats and the rock and ground squirrels. When the flea bites an infected animal the bacteria enter into the body of the flea and multiply inside. When the infected flea attempts to bite again it vomits clotted blood and bacteria into the bloodstream of the victim, either human or a small mammal, usually rat. Thus the disease is mostly transmitted from rodents from the bites of infected fleas. 

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