西藏普兰县山地人间鼠疫流行调查报告

Epidcmiological Investigation on an Episode of Human Plague Preva-lence in a Mountain Area within the Limits of Pulan County, Tibet

During the period of Aug. 12th-26th, 1989, an episode of human plague prevalence occurred at the south slope (30? 40'-31 N, 81? 30'-82 E; altitude 4530-5180 metre) of Gangdis Mountain range within the limits of Pulan County, Tibet Autonomous Region. Seven persons (male 4, female 3), who are all Tibetan shepherds, were involved in the episode; of them 3 patients resulted in death without being treated in time and 4 ones were cured; the first case was infected with the causative agent of plague through contacting with a self-dead marmot (Marmota hymalayana), and other 6 secondary cases infected one by one through contacting with a patient who had suffered from plague. According to epidemiological analysis of this outbreak of human plague, the epidemic was considered to be an episode of human pulmonary plague, and the above mentioned area affected thought as a natural focus of plague where marmots could act as a reservoir of the disease and also as a part of the known natural foci of plague where M. hymalayana could play a role of host.