Colorado Plague Alert: Confirmed Case in Pueblo County
Posted on 07/12/24 at 12:59
- Plague Alert in Colorado: Confirmed Case in Pueblo County
- Key tips to prevent the spread of plague in residential areas.
- Learn how to protect your family and pets against bacterial plague.
Plague Alert in Colorado: Confirmed Case in Pueblo County
Health officials have confirmed a case of plague in a resident of Pueblo County.
Authorities announced this on Tuesday, marking the fourth case following those detected in February in Oregon and in New Mexico in March.
The case was initially identified from preliminary test results last Friday.
Plague Alert in Colorado: Confirmed Case in Pueblo County
This led the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment to intensify its surveillance measures.
The plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is primarily transmitted through flea bites.
It is historically associated with devastating pandemics, such as the «Black Death» that affected millions in Europe during the Middle Ages.
According to the press release, the potential source of the infection in the United States is still under investigation.
Some Symptoms of Plague Disease
The plague naturally circulates among wild rodents and rarely affects humans today, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Typical symptoms include sudden fever, chills, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and commonly painful swelling of the lymph nodes.
«While the plague can be successfully treated with antibiotics, it is crucial that infected individuals receive treatment immediately to avoid severe complications or death.»
This was stated Alicia Solis, manager of the Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness Program at the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment which is handling this plague alert.
Authorities Speak Out on the Disease
Authorities urge the community to take precautions.
This includes eliminating areas where wild rodents might live around homes, garages, sheds, and recreational areas.
They also recommend protecting pets by treating them for fleas and preventing them from roaming in areas with rodents or sleeping in beds with humans.
From 1970 to 2022, 67 cases of plague have been reported in Colorado, according to the CDC.
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