The Pueblo Division of Public Well being and Surroundings (PDPHE), at the side of the Colorado Division of Public Well being and Surroundings (CDPHE), is at present investigating a human case of plague primarily based on preliminary check outcomes.
The plague bacterium, often called Yersinia pestis, will be transmitted by fleas and wild rodents, equivalent to prairie canines, squirrels, rats, and rabbits.
Based on the CDC, “People often turn into contaminated by means of the chew of an contaminated rodent flea or by dealing with an contaminated animal. Plague will be cured with antibiotics, however these should be given promptly to stop critical sickness or dying.”
Signs of plague embrace sudden fever and chills, extreme headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and a common feeling of sickness. Swollen lymph nodes with ache are additionally a standard symptom.
Plague can manifest in three varieties: 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 defend themselves and their pets from the plague:
- Eradicate locations that rodents can cover 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 put it in a rubbish bag. Lastly, place the bag in an out of doors rubbish can.
- Use insect repellent that incorporates 20%-30% DEET to stop flea bites. Deal with pants, socks, shoe tops, arms, and legs.
- Don’t let pets sleep in mattress with you.
- Deal with canines and cats for fleas usually. Flea collars haven’t been confirmed efficient.
- Don’t permit pets to hunt or roam in rodent areas, equivalent 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 will be handled efficiently with antibiotics, however an contaminated particular person should be handled promptly to keep away from critical problems or dying,” mentioned Alicia Solis.
