Colorado Springs, Colo. (KKTV) – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPH) on Friday sent out information about plague activity in the state.
As of Friday, there were at least two confirmed human cases of plague this summer. A recent case was reported to the state health department on Thursday for a resident of a rural county. The exact county was not shared in the publication, but this article will be updated if the department is able to share that information. The first case was diagnosed earlier this summer in a Southwest Colorado resident.
In both confirmed cases, people were exposed to sick animals. One person came in contact with the squirrel and the other person came in contact with the cat.
Click here to read more from CDPHE on Plague.
From CDPHE:
“Plague is usually spread by the bite of an infected flea but can also be spread through infected animal tissues, fluids or respiratory drops. Infected fleas can be found near areas where multiple rats or rabbits have died – ignore these areas and avoid pets or other Not allowing animals to explore these areas reduces the risk of plague. Citizens with direct contact with fleas or wildlife in the affected areas may be at risk. People who feel they have been exposed should contact a health care provider immediately. These include fever, headaches, colds, weakness, and tender, painful lymph nodes. There are no publicly available vaccines available to prevent plague in humans. If caught early, both people and pets can be successfully treated with antibiotics. “
In the state health department, people can take some precautions to protect themselves and their pets:
-Do not run any wildlife directly.
Keep pets away from wildlife, especially dead rats and rabbits.
Do not let dogs and cats prey on prairie dogs, squirrels, grapes, other rats or rabbits.
-Do not let pets roam freely.
Try all pets for fleas as advised by the veterinarian.
-If your pet develops a sudden illness after exposure to wildlife, call a veterinarian immediately.
-Do not feed wildlife – this attracts them to your property, brings them into close contact, and increases the risk of disease transmission.
-Do not try to bite or kill a stray dog. This increases the risk of plague for you and your pet.
-Be aware of the rabbit and rabbit population in your area, and report sudden or dead animals to your local health department.
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