Shots or Not? The Plague, the Flu, and You

Swine flu. Bird flu. The media has everyone worrying about epidemics and pandemics. Yet there is nothing said about one of the great communicable diseases of all time: the plague. The Black Death. No, it is not extinct. There are new cases of plague in the United States every year, totaling over 400 cases since 1950. And yes, there is a vaccination for it.

CDC Plague Statistics

So have you had your plague shot? You haven't?

Why isn't your doctor urging you to get one? Do you know anyone who has had a plague vaccination? Then why is there no plague epidemic? And why is vaccination supposedly the only way to stop a flu epidemic?

Disease Comparison: Viral vs Bacterial

One proffered explanation is that the diseases are dissimilar, because influenza is viral, and plague is bacterial. But tetanus is bacterial, and we aggressively vaccinate against that. Indeed, the CDC specifies a considerable number of Vaccine Preventable Diseases which are bacterial, including:

• Anthrax
• Bacterial meningitis
• Diphtheria
• Haemophilus influenzae serotype b
• Pertussis (whooping cough)

Current Plague Statistics

CDC states that "persons who have regular contact with wild rodents or their fleas" in areas where plague has occurred should be vaccinated. That includes contact with squirrels, mice, rabbits, coyotes, woodchucks, cats, and dogs—all of which carry fleas. Fleas are found everywhere. Then why isn't plague everywhere?

Climate and Geographic Factors

One explanation is that plague is climate-related. If incidence were related merely to heat, we might expect cases in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Alabama. But there aren't. If plague is temperature-dependent, it's confusing: almost all USA cases are in the warm, dry Southwest, yet plague decimated Europe in the 1300s—much cooler than the American southwest.

The Historical Perspective

What is striking about the plague is that it is still around and practically no one gets it. This disease killed 50 million people. Eventually, the great Black Death epidemic ended. Somehow. The epidemics were not stopped by:

• Killing every flea, rodent, or house pet
• Antibiotics (not available)
• Mass vaccination (not available)

Generally, improved sanitation and improved nutrition are credited with such a victory.

If these work with plague, they might make a rather big impact on the flu.

Alternative Approaches to Flu Prevention

Nutrients That Reduce Flu Duration and Severity:

Many physicians consider high doses of vitamin C to be so powerful an antiviral that it may be considered the "other" immunization for a variety of influenza strains.