Plague and Health Impacts
Plague is a bacterial disease transmitted by rodent fleas and is widespread in the western United States. It commonly infects prairie dogs and squirrels, which can be found in parks and residential areas within Boulder County. Household pets, such as dogs and especially cats, can either get plague or carry infected fleas home to their owners.
Cause
The bacteria is transmitted to people through a flea bite and direct contact with infected animals. Fleas generally do not infect other animals unless their natural host (animal) is no longer available. Domestic cats and dogs can contract plague by catching and eating infected rodents and rabbits or by being bitten by infected fleas. They can then carry infected fleas home to their owners or, especially with cats, serve as a direct source of infection.
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- Sudden onset of fever and chills
- Severe headache
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- General feeling of systemic (whole-body) illness
- Extreme pain and swelling in the lymph node
Treatment
Treatment with antibiotics is effective during the early stages of the disease. If diagnosis and appropriate treatment are delayed, life-threatening complications may follow. Consult your physician as soon as you experience symptoms.
Control & Prevention
A licensed professional should carry out rodent control. Poisoning of colonies should be avoided because it releases fleas into the environment, causing additional risk to people. Infected colonies will be posted with warning signs, and access to pets should be restricted.
- Do not feed or entice any rodent or rabbit.
- Eliminate rodent harborage, such as piles of lumber, broken cement, and trash or weeds.
- Keep foundations in good repair, and trim back overhanging trees from the roof and windows.
- Keep away from rodent-infested areas when camping.
- Avoid contact with all sick or dead rodents.
- Report instances of sick or dead rodents in the county to Boulder County Public Health at 303-441-1564.
- While hiking, treat pants, socks, shoe tops, and shirts with insect repellent.
- Keep all dogs leashed, and restrict cats from roaming in rodent-infested areas.
Report all bites from wild carnivores and cats to Public Health at 303-441-1564.
If the onset of illness occurs within 2-6 days after activities in the outdoors, report it to your physician.
