June 28, 2010

Contact: Sarah Bruestle
Public Information Officer - Pueblo City-County Health Department
(719) 583-4526 phone (719) 671-1341 cell

Plague Confirmed in the Prairie West of Pueblo

Pueblo, June, 28, 2010 – Today Public Health Officials confirmed plague among fleas and prairie dogs in prairie land on the Southwestern edge of the City of Pueblo. Public Health Officials warn individuals to take precautions and not feed wild animals. “Plague is confirmed in fleas and wildlife in the prairie on the Southwestern edge of the City of Pueblo. It is important to keep house pets away from the prairie in this area, including walking your pets,” stated Dr. Christine Nevin-Woods, Public Health Director at the Pueblo City-County Health Department.

Dr. Nevin-Woods added, “When precautions are taken, the probability of an individual contracting plague, even in an active plague area, is quite low. In the current infected area, the residents have been informed and chemicals will be used to kill fleas near the homes.”

Living in an area with wildlife, everyone needs to know to not handle wildlife, especially since rabies has now been confirmed in wildlife north of Pueblo in El Paso County. With the presence of such wildlife diseases, it is advisable not to feed wildlife in our area.

Plague, caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis, is transmitted from rodent to rodent by infected fleas. Infected fleas pass plague to animals or people through bites.

Plague is characterized by periodic disease outbreaks in rodent populations, some of which have a high death rate. During these outbreaks, hungry infected fleas that have lost their normal hosts seek other sources of blood, thus increasing the risk to humans and other animals frequenting the area.

People infected with plague usually show symptoms 2 to 6 days after coming in contact with plague. Symptoms include fever, chills, weakness, and swollen and painful lymph nodes. A few people get pneumonia (infection of the lungs) as a first symptom of plague. The infection then spreads to other parts of the body. If this disease is not treated right away, many people who get sick will not survive. Plague can be treated with antibiotics when caught in time.

Although this area is confirmed for plague, it could occur elsewhere in Pueblo County as well. Residents are encouraged to call in any unusual die-off of rabbits or prairie dogs to the Pueblo City-County Health Department at 583-4323.

The Pueblo City-County Health Department also urges residents to take precaution to protect themselves, their families, and their pets against plague.

  1. DO NOT feed or entice any rodent or rabbit species into your yard, back porch or patio.
  2. Get rid of places where rodents can live and hide; such as piles of lumber, broken cement, trash and weeds around your home or recreational cabin.
  3. Make sure that houses and outbuildings are as “rodent proof” as possible. Keep foundations in good repair and eliminate overhanging trees from roofs and windows.
  4. When camping or hiking, do not linger in rodent-infested areas. Do not catch, play with or attempt to hand feed wild rodents.
  5. Avoid contact with all sick and dead rodents and rabbits. Report areas of die-off to local or state health department representatives or to the appropriate campground office.
  6. While hiking, treat pants, socks, shoe tops, arms and legs with insect repellents.
  7. Keep all dogs leashed or, better yet, leave them at home when hiking or camping. This is a good reason to restrain cats and dogs from roaming at all times.
  8. Insecticide powders or shampoos should be used on cats and dogs every few days while in plague areas. The effectiveness of flea-repellent collars has not been proven. See your veterinarian for advice on flea control.
  9. If you hunt or trap rabbits or carnivorous wild animals, such as coyotes and bobcats, protect your hands and face while skinning or handling these animals. Fresh pelts may be treated with flea spray or powder.
  10. Bites from wild carnivores and from cats and dogs have caused human plague. Such animals may be infected, carry the bacteria in their mouths or may transport infective fleas.
  11. Cats sometimes exhibit swelling and sores around the mouth, head and neck when infected. Cats have been known to develop pneumonic plague in the lung and transmit by breathing out the infected droplets. Seek professional veterinary care for such animals and do not handle suspiciously sick pets without gloves and face protection.

If you have any questions regarding plague, contact the Environmental Health Division at the Pueblo City-County Health Department, (719) 583-4323, www.pueblohealthdept.org, or visit the Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/index.htm

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