Human case of PLAGUE confirmed in Colorado for first time in five years after exposure to diseased squirrels – The Sun
A HUMAN case of the plague has been reported in Colorado for the first time in five years, according to officials.
A southwest Colorado resident is said to have been infected after being exposed to sick squirrels earlier this summer.
The case was confirmed by Department of Public Health in Colorado – a state where plague has been present since the 1940s and circulates amongst rodents.
Dr. Jennifer House, state public health veterinarian for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said that plague is a bacterial disease that’s typically carried by fleas but also can spread through respiratory droplets.
Infected wild animals have been found in Jefferson, Adams, and Broomfield.
Dr. House said: "While we see most plague activity during the summer, the disease can be found in rodents year-round and sometimes spills over into other wildlife species as well as domestic cats and dogs."
Though the disease can be deadly, most people recover if they receive prompt antibiotic treatment.
CIRCULATED BY RODENTS
Since 2005, there have been 21 human cases of plague in Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health.
The person who contracted it this summer has since recovered.
According to the Department of Public Health, that person contracted septicemic plague, a form of the disease that is not easily spread.
Since the individual was infected, no other cases have been found.
Residents are advised to avoid handling wildlife – such as squirrels, rabbits and other rodents.
As domestic animals can also catch the disease, the health department also advises not allowing the cats and dogs to roam or hunt rodents.
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Pets should also be treated for fleas, advice states, and residents are encouraged to monitor rodent populations and dead animals in their areas.
Suffers of plague can display signs of fever, chills, headaches, weakness, or a swelling of the lymph nodes.
A plague warning was recently issued in Colorado after a squirrel tested positive for the disease.
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