Scientists have created a "predictive map" of places in the U.S. most likely to contain concentrated amounts of the plague, according to CNN.
Though the thought of contracting the plague is far from the minds of many, this centuries old disease is still present. In fact, the Western U.S. still has one of the largest concentrations of animals that carry the disease, according to a study publish by PLOS.
The SUNY Downstate Medical Center took that into account when they studied areas where animals contracted or were exposed to the plague.
"This study used surveillance data of plague in wild and domestic animals in the American West to identify and map those areas with the greatest potential for human exposure to this infection, which can be particularly deadly when transmitted to humans," said study author Michael Walsh.
Their research could better inform health care officials of the dangers and the general public as well, according to EurekAlert.
"The findings can be used by public health agencies to target specific areas for enhanced plague surveillance within areas and counties predicted to be at high risk, as well as by other research teams to direct the sampling of local wildlife populations for the identification of Yersinia pestis (plague) in wild animals that find themselves in close proximity to humans and human developed landscapes," Walsh said.
