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Contact: Lori Maldonado
Public Information Specialist
(303) 692-2028
For Immediate Release Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Plague Warning Issued by State Health Department
DENVER—State and local health epidemiologists Tuesday urged Coloradans
living or visiting in rural sections of the state to take precautions
against rodents which may be spreading plague through their fleas.
The rodents include rock and ground squirrels, prairie dogs, wood rats and
chipmunks. Outdoor cats and rabbits also can be plague carriers.
The warning was issued following confirmation Tuesday by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention laboratory in Fort Collins that a
54-year-old woman from Weld County is suffering from plague. The woman is
being treated at an area hospital after becoming ill on August 16. She was
hospitalized on August 22.
A joint investigation involving state and local health officials and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is being done to identify where
the woman was exposed.
Symptoms of plague include fever, headache, weakness and rapidly
developing pneumonia with shortness of breath; chest pain; cough; and
sometimes bloody or watery saliva. The pneumonia progresses for
two-to-four days and may cause respiratory failure and shock. Plague is
treated with antibiotics.
John Pape, an epidemiologist who specializes in animal-related diseases
for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said, “Prior
to this human case, several cats around the state have tested positive for
plague, so it’s timely for individuals to take necessary precautions.
Humans can get the plague from their cats through scratches, bites or by
exposure to their coughs. The best way to protect your cat and yourself is
to keep your cat indoors so they can't hunt infected rodents. Also, keep
pets from roaming. If they are outdoor animals, talk to your veterinarian
about flea treatment.”
Pape explained that in some rural parts of the state, the rodent
population has grown rapidly due to rainy weather, resulting in higher
vegetation, which, in turn, provides an ample food supply for these
rodents.
Precautions that should be taken by Coloradans who live in or visit rural
sections of the state include:
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Do not attempt to hold, feed or entice any rodent into
the yard or onto the back porch or patio.
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Avoid contact with all sick and dead rodents. Look for
the presence of blowflies or dead animal smell as evidence of animals
that have died from the disease. Report the areas where such animals are
found to local health departments or to the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment or to the appropriate campground office.
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Watch cats for plague symptoms such as lack of appetite,
fever, lethargy, a swollen neck, coughing or difficulty breathing. Seek
professional veterinary care for such animals and do not handle
suspiciously sick pets without gloves and face protection.
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When hiking, treat pants, socks, shoe tops, arms and
legs with insect repellents.
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Eliminate potential rodent shelters, such as piles of
lumber, broken cement, trash and weed around the home or recreational
cabin.
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Make certain that houses and outbuildings are as
rodent-proof as possible. Keep foundations in good repair and eliminate
overhanging trees from roof and windows.
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Do not catch, play with or attempt to hand-feed wild
rodents.
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Keep all dogs leashed, or better yet, leave them at home
when hiking or camping. It also is wise to restrain cats and dogs from
roaming at all times.
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Insecticide powders or shampoos should be used on cats
and dogs every few days while in plague-infested areas.
According to Pape, the last human case of plague in Colorado was reported
in 2000 and involved a 7-year old from Montrose County.
For more information, contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment’s Disease Control and Environmental Epidemiology Division at
(303) 692-2700.
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