DCHP-3

beaver fever

DCHP-2 (Jun 2016)

Spelling variants:
Bever Fever

n. — informal, usually Outdoors, rural

an intestinal infection contracted by drinking water contaminated with fecal matter of wildlife, including beavers.

Type: 5. Frequency — The medical term for beaver fever is giardiasis. The waterborne infection was nicknamed beaver fever because beavers, being aquatic mammals, are perceived to be the main cause of giardiasis (see, e.g. the 2008 quotation). Beaver fever is most prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1).
See also ITP Nelson, s.v. "beaver fever", which is marked "Canadian".

Quotations

1982
The water supply here is being tested to see if it is responsible for a widespread outbreak of what local residents call "beaver fever."
1984
27 January. 3 p.m. Dean Befus, Department of Immunology, McMaster University, "Beaver Fever (Giardiasis) in West Africa: Maternal Infant Relationship." C.W.-410 Biological Sciences Building.
1996
An attempt to prevent an outbreak of beaver fever on Bowen Island has been foiled by a family of determined rodents and local wildlife lovers.
2007
Caused by the parasite giardia and spread through the consumption of untreated water, beaver fever symptoms include stomach cramps - and just about everything else that's worth singing about in a Pepto-Bismol commercial.
2007
Also known as beaver fever, or giardiasis, this protozoan organism causes an intestinal disease that humans and pets can get from drinking water from contaminated sources such as ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, and even puddles in ditches.
2008
Unlike cities elsewhere in North America, Vancouver hasn't had an outbreak of either cryptosporidiosis or giardiasis -- the disease colloquially known as "beaver fever" because beavers, being aquatic animals, are more likely to be the source of giardia-contaminated feces.
2013
In 1994 Trail established the Columbia River as the city's main water supply source and built modernized water treatment facilities, in part due to the 1990 community outbreak of giardiasis (beaver fever) a parasitic gastrointestinal infection traced to inadequately treated drinking water pulled from the reservoir.
2016
Alberta trials have also shown that beaver habitat naturally cleans water of excess nitrogen from agricultural run-off, without any further treatment necessary. "Beaver Fever" has been shown to be a myth, a disease caused more often by cattle and, most often, by humans than by beavers.

References

  • ITP Nelson

Images

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 5 Nov. 2013

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 5 Nov. 2013