RABIES, LYME DISEASE,
HANTA VIRUS,
OH MY!
Some of the furry creatures that scamper
around camp aren’t as harmless as they seem. E. Lendell Cockrum,
who has spent his life studying animals and the diseases they
carry, has written a book telling why. The title spells it out:
Rabies, Lyme Disease, Hanta Virus and Other Animal-Borne Human
Diseases in the United States and Canada. Half the book is a
compilation of pictures that help outdoor enthusiasts identify the
bats and rodents such as mice and squirrels that carry parasites
and infections that can be transmitted to humans. To stay healthy
outdoors, Cockrum advises common sense: Treat all water, wear
protective clothing and don’t handle wild animals. But he also
dispels some commonly held beliefs. Deer mice, he says, may not be
the only carriers of hanta virus. Recent tests show that wood rats,
squirrels and chipmunks are also carriers. Even if precautions are
taken, it’s still possible to be infected, which is when Cockrum’s
book could come in handy. “Many of these diseases are serious,
sometimes fatal,” writes Cockrum, “so recognizing the animals that
you’ve been in contact with can help doctors begin the correct
treatment right away, perhaps even saving a life.”
Fisher Books, 4239 W. Ina Road, Suite 101,
Tucson, AZ 85741 (520/744-6110). Paperback: $14.95. 146
pages.
* Sara
Phillips
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Rabies, Lyme Disease, Hanta Virus, oh my!.
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