The Pueblo Division of Public Well being and Setting (PDPHE), along side the Colorado Division of Public Well being and Setting (CDPHE), is at present investigating a human case of plague based mostly on preliminary take a look at outcomes.
The plague bacterium, referred to as Yersinia pestis, might be transmitted by fleas and wild rodents, corresponding to prairie canine, squirrels, rats, and rabbits.
Based on the CDC, “People normally turn into contaminated by the chew of an contaminated rodent flea or by dealing with an contaminated animal. Plague might be cured with antibiotics, however these should be given promptly to forestall severe sickness or dying.”
Signs of plague embrace sudden fever and chills, extreme headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and a basic feeling of sickness. Swollen lymph nodes with ache are additionally a typical symptom.
Plague can manifest in three types: Bubonic plague infects your lymph nodes, septicemic plague is in your blood and pneumonic plague impacts your lungs. Well being officers didn’t specify which kind the case in Pueblo County was.
Alicia Solis, program supervisor of the Workplace of Communicable Illness and Emergency Preparedness at PDPHE, advises people to take precautions to guard themselves and their pets from plague.
Solis suggested the general public on the right way to defend themselves and their pets from the plague:
- Get rid of locations that rodents can conceal and breed round your own home, storage, shed or recreation space. Take away brush, rock piles, trash, and piles of lumber.
- Keep away from contact with lifeless animals. In the event you should deal with sick or lifeless animals comply with these tips. First, placed on an insect repellant to guard your self from fleas. Then use a long-handled shovel to position it in a rubbish bag. Lastly, place the bag in an out of doors rubbish can.
- Use insect repellent that comprises 20%-30% DEET to forestall flea bites. Deal with pants, socks, shoe tops, arms, and legs.
- Don’t let pets sleep in mattress with you.
- Deal with canine and cats for fleas usually. Flea collars haven’t been confirmed efficient.
- Don’t permit pets to hunt or roam in rodent areas, corresponding to prairie canine colonies.
- Maintain pet meals in rodent-proof containers.
“In the event you develop signs of plague, see a well being care supplier instantly. Plague might be handled efficiently with antibiotics, however an contaminated particular person should be handled promptly to keep away from severe problems or dying,” mentioned Alicia Solis.
