Plague symptoms include sudden high fever, chills, headache, and nausea.
Public health officials have announced that a squirrel in Colorado has tested positive for the bubonic plague.
The town of Morrison, Colorado, in Jefferson County, which is just west of Denver, made the surprising announcement saying that the squirrel is the first case of plague in the county.
“Plague is an infectious disease caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria, and can be contracted by humans and pets if proper precautions are not taken,” officials from the Jefferson County Department of Public Health (JCPH) said in a released statement. to the public.
It is possible for humans to become infected with bubonic plague through infected flea bites and by direct contact with blood or tissues from infected animals, such as a cough or sting.
Jefferson County Public Health said cats are highly susceptible to the plague of things like flea bites, scratches or rodent bites and ingesting an infected rodent. Cats can die if not promptly treated with antibiotics after contact with the plague.
Authorities also said that dogs are not as susceptible to plague as cats, but can still collect and transport plague-infected rodent fleas. Any pet owner who suspects their pet is ill should contact a veterinarian immediately.
“Plague symptoms can include the sudden onset of high fever, chills, headache, nausea, and extreme pain and swelling of the lymph nodes, occurring within two to seven days after exposure. Plague can be effectively treated with antibiotics when diagnosed early. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a doctor, “said JCPH.
The risk of contracting bubonic plague is extremely low as long as proper precautions are taken and a list is published by JCPH, including removal of all food sources, shelter and access for wild animals in the home, not feeding wild animals, keep litter and yard free from litter to reduce wildlife habitat, keeping people and pets should avoid all contact with sick or dead wild animals and rodents, using caution when handling sick pets and having them examined by a veterinarian, see with a veterinarian about pet flea and tick control and preventing pets from roaming freely outside the home, where they can prey on wild animals and bring disease home with them.
“All pet owners who live near wild animal populations, such as prairie dog colonies or other known wildlife habitats, should consult their veterinarian about flea control for their pets to help prevent transfer from fleas to humans, “said JCPH.
According to the CDC, even though there is no plague vaccine, it can be successfully treated with antibiotics if detected within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.
“Arguably the most infamous plague outbreak was the so-called Black Death, a centuries-old pandemic that spread throughout Asia and Europe,” according to National Geographic. “It was believed to have started in China in 1334, spread along trade routes, and reached Europe through Sicilian ports in the late 1340s. The plague killed about 25 million people, almost a third of the population of the continent. The Black Death persisted for centuries, particularly in cities. The outbreaks included the Great Plague of London (1665-66), in which 70,000 residents died. “
However, the CDC says there is now only an average of seven cases of human plague per year, and the WHO says the death rate is estimated at 8-10%.
National Geographic is owned by Walt Disney, the parent company of ABC News.
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