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January 3, Louisville, CO — A domestic cat living in the 700 block of West Street in Louisville has tested positive for plague. The positive test result was reported to Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) on Friday, December 30th, after initial notification from a local veterinarian’s office. This newest positive test result comes after a summer season of multiple animal plague cases identified throughout the county.

Although plague is generally less active during the winter months, public health officials want to remind residents to be aware of the risk year-round. “Although we have had some cold temperatures during the past month, this has been a relatively mild winter, and this recent identification means that people should still take some actions to protect themselves and their pets,” said Heath Harmon, an epidemiologist for BCPH. “At this time of the year, in addition to avoiding fleas, residents should take steps to prevent infestations of wild rodents that may harbor fleas with plague bacteria.”

Boulder County Public Health will be working directly with City of Louisville Code Enforcement to offer suggestions on reducing the potential for plague in this area by eliminating rodent harborage.

Public health officials recommend the following precautions to reduce the likelihood of being exposed to plague:

• PREVENT rodent infestations around your house - clear plants and materials away from outside walls, reduce access to food items, and set traps.
• TREAT known rodent sites around your home with flea powder or a suitable insecticide.
• STAY OUT of areas that wild rodents inhabit. If you enter areas with wild rodents, wear insect repellent and tuck pants cuffs into socks to prevent flea bites.
• AVOID all contact with wild rodents, including squirrels; do not feed or handle them.
• DO NOT TOUCH sick or dead animals.
• AVOID FLEAS! Protect pets with flea powder, and keep pets on a leash and out of wild rodent habitats.

Plague is an infectious disease spread by fleas to wild rodents and other small mammals, such as squirrels, rats, prairie dogs, and rabbits. Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague and occurs after a bite from an infected flea. Plague can spread to humans when infected fleas from ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and other wild rodents bite a human.

Household pets, such as dogs and especially cats, can either get plague or carry infected fleas home to their owners. In rare instances, plague can be transmitted to people from cats that are sick with plague. “Keeping cats indoors is the best way to protect them from getting plague,” said Joe Malinowski, Consumer Protection Program Coordinator for BCPH. “In addition, pet owners should discuss with their veterinarians the best way to protect pets from fleas.”

Symptoms of plague include high fever, extreme fatigue, and painful swollen lymph nodes (bubos). If you observe these symptoms in a person or pet, it is important to contact your health care provider or veterinarian immediately. Plague can be treated with antibiotics, but this treatment is most successful when the disease is diagnosed quickly.

For more information about plague:

• Plague Disease Fact Sheet
• Or call the BCPH Health Alert Hotline at 303-441-1460.