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By Flannery O’Neil
Special to The SUN
San Juan Basin Health (SJBH), in coordination with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), has confirmed a case of bubonic plague in a La Plata County resident. The subsequent investigation identified plague-positive fleas from a prairie dog burrow in western La Plata County. SJBH representatives are communicating with residents in the area to encourage them to take precautions to protect themselves.
Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague in humans. Symptoms begin two to six days after the bite of an infected flea or contact with an infected rodent or cat. Symptoms typically include sudden onset of fever, headache, chills, weakness and one or more swollen, tender, and painful lymph nodes (called buboes).
Bubonic plague can be successfully treated with antibiotics when diagnosed promptly. If you have had a possible exposure to infected rodents or fleas and are experiencing these symptoms, consult a physician as soon as possible. Colorado has identified 64 cases of human plague, nine (14 percent) of which were fatal, since 1957.
One hundred and fourteen samples have been tested for plague this year at the state health lab. Two rodents and a dog have tested positive for plague in Colorado. Fourteen flea samples have also tested positive for plague. Since domestic cats and dogs can carry infected fleas into the home, it is important to consult your veterinarian for information about effective flea control for your pets.
Tips to protect yourself and your family from getting plague:
To learn more about plague, visit www.cdc.gov/plague.