Question

Map titled world distribution of plague, 1998. one color represents countries reporting plague, 1970 to 1998, and the other color represents regions where plague occurs in animals. the united states, regions in south america, africa, and asia are highlighted. according to this map, which of the following regions are least likely to experience outbreaks of the plague?

a. cold and densely populated regions
b. warm and densely populated regions
c. warm and sparsely populated regions
d. cold and sparsely populated regions

Answer 1

Cold and sparsely populated regions are least likely to experience outbreaks of the plague due to less hospitable conditions for reservoir host rodents and reduced human contact with these potential plague carriers.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cold and sparsely populated regions:

The regions least likely to experience outbreaks of the plague are the cold and sparsely populated regions (Option D). From a geographical perspective, plague is shown to persist in areas where there are reservoirs of rodents that can host the Yersinia pestis bacterium, the causative agent of the disease. Plague outbreaks have historically tended to be more pronounced in regions where these rodent populations live in close proximity to human settlements, particularly where there is a dense population.

Given that rodent populations that serve as plague reservoirs can vary greatly in different ecosystems, regions that are cold and sparsely populated would offer less hospitable conditions for these rodents and their fleas, making plague outbreaks less likely. These areas would also have fewer humans in close contact with potentially infected rodents, further reducing the likelihood of plague transmission. In contrast, warm and densely or sparsely populated regions could provide more favorable conditions for the reservoir host rodents, and thus be more prone to outbreaks.