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For Immediate Release Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Squirrel Found in City of Boulder Tests Positive for Plague
A dead squirrel found in the city of Boulder has tested
positive for plague. The positive test result for plague was reported to
Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) on Tuesday, June 14th. This newest
positive test result is in addition to positive plague samples already
identified from the Lyons and Lafayette areas.
A Boulder resident near 9th and Mapleton discovered the dead squirrel on
June 10th. Other nearby residents had also recently reported the death of
several other squirrels in the neighborhood.
Plague activity has already been identified widely through Colorado this
season, and public health officials want residents to be aware of how to
protect themselves against plague. “Plague occurs naturally in Colorado, and
we want people to understand what steps are necessary to protect themselves,
their family members, and their pets,” said Heath Harmon, an epidemiologist
for BCPH. “Because plague is most commonly transmitted by fleas, taking
steps to avoid flea exposures will be most helpful in preventing this
disease.”
Public health officials recommend the following precautions to reduce the
likelihood of being exposed to plague:
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AVOID FLEAS! Protect pets with flea powder, and keep
pets on a leash and out of wild rodent habitats.
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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.
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AVOID all contact with wild rodents, including
squirrels; do not feed or handle them.
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DO NOT TOUCH sick or dead animals.
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PREVENT rodent infestations around your house - clear
plants and materials away from outside walls, reduce access to food items, and
set traps.
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TREAT known rodent sites around your home with flea
powder or a suitable insecticide.
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 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.
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