Details - Public Health Image Library(PHIL)

ID#:

14327

Caption:

This plague epidemiologist was in the process of spraying an insecticide into a burrow suspected of harboring animals infested with fleas carrying the plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis, in an epizootic area. The technician was holding a large pump sprayer, whose tip had been placed at the mouth of the burrow, and was delivering flea insecticide. When distinct burrow systems are apparent, fleas can be controlled with a duster, using 0.5% permethrin, or another EPA registered insecticidal dust. Carbaryl, commonly referred to as Sevin, can be used, but has little residual activity, especially in wet weather. Pretreatment flea counts, i.e., average fleas per burrow, and post-treatment counts are very important records that should be kept to determine the effectiveness of the flea reduction activity. Additional information that should be kept, including the total poundage of insecticide used, acres treated, and approximate number of burrows per acre.