A southwest Colorado resident was infected with plague after exposure to sick squirrels earlier this summer, the state’s first confirmed case of the disease in humans since 2015. But health officials emphasized that the public only needs to take normal precautions.
Plague, a bacterial disease that is usually transmitted by fleas but can also be spread through respiratory drops, has been in Colorado since the 1940s, said Dr. Jennifer House, the state’s public health veterinarian for the Department. of Public Health and Environment of Colorado.
Infected wild animals have been found this year in Jefferson, Adams and Broomfield counties, although the disease can circulate in rodent communities across the state.
“While we see the highest plague activity during the summer, the disease can be found in rodents year-round and sometimes spreads to other wildlife species as well as domestic cats and dogs,” said.
While the disease can be fatal if left untreated, most people recover with immediate antibiotic treatment.
There have been 21 human cases in Colorado since 2005. The person infected this summer contracted septic plague, a form of the disease that does not spread easily, and no other cases have been found. He or she has since recovered.
All Colorado residents should avoid handling wildlife, especially squirrels, prairie dogs, rabbits, and other rodents. Pets, such as cats and dogs, can also catch plague from infected wildlife, so the health department advises against allowing pets to roam or hunt rodents.
Other precautions include:
- Pet treatment for fleas on the advice of a veterinarian
- They do not feed wildlife, which puts them in closer contact with people and pets.
- Watching the rodent populations around you. If you see several dead animals, call your local health department. Don’t touch or move wildlife
Plague symptoms include sudden fever, headache, chills, weakness, and pain or swelling in the lymph nodes. If you think that you, another person or a pet could have been exposed, call a doctor immediately.
