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For Immediate Release Thursday August 4, 2005
Plague identified near trail - residents urged to take
precautions
| Contacts: |
|
Chana Goussetis, BCPH Health Educator
303-413-7562
cgoussetis@bouldercounty.org |
Joe Malinowski, BCPH Consumer Protection Program Coordinator
303-441-1197 or jmalinowski@bouldercounty.org |
Bryan Pritchett, City of Boulder, Open Space & Mountain Parks
720-564-2051 |
Matt Clausen, City of Boulder, Parks & Recreation
303-413-7258 |
Boulder – Fleas collected on Friday from a prairie dog
colony in open space just north of Wonderland Trail have been confirmed positive
for plague. The fleas were collected after notification to Boulder County Public
Health (BCPH) that there was a possible die-off of the colony. This is the 9th
case of plague in Boulder County this summer, and the third within the city of
Boulder.
The colony where the fleas were collected is located near a
trail that is very active with hikers and joggers, particularly those who bring
their dogs along with them. BCPH officials are working closely with the City of
Boulder to ensure that the area is well-posted and residents are notified of the
presence of the disease in the area.
Parts of the trail that lead to the area where the fleas were
collected have been closed and dusting of the entire colony in accordance with
the City of Boulder’s Integrated Pest Management protocol is planned for early
next week. Specific trail closings can be found at the City of Boulder web site
starting tomorrow at
www.ci.boulder.co.us/parks-recreation/.
“The rain and cooler temperatures are likely to allow the fleas
to live longer, and thus draw them out more to search for new food hosts,” said
Joe Malinowski, BCPH Consumer Protection Program Coordinator. “So, it is
especially important that visitors to the area be aware of the risk and
appropriate precautions to take.”
Although dogs rarely become ill from plague, they, like other
household pets, can carry infected fleas home to their owners or other household
pets, particularly cats. In rare instances, plague can be transmitted to people
from cats sick with the disease. “Keeping cats indoors is the best way to
protect them from getting plague,” said Malinowski.
Plague activity has already been widely identified throughout
Colorado this season. As of July 23, 2005, there had been 174 animals tested for
plague across the state. Of those, 52 tested positive for the disease. In
Boulder County, 30 samples have been tested for 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 fleas is the best
way to prevent the disease.”
Public health officials recommend the following precautions to
reduce the likelihood of being exposed to plague:
-
AVOID FLEAS! The best protection for pets, especially
cats, is to keep them indoors. Additional protection can be provided by using
flea powder and keeping pets out of wild rodent habitats.
-
STAY OUT of areas that wild rodents inhabit. If you
enter areas with wild rodents, wear insect repellent and tuck pant cuffs into
socks to prevent fleabites.
-
AVOID all contact with wild rodents, including
squirrels; do not feed or handle them.
-
NEVER TOUCH sick or dead animals with your bare hands.
If an animal must be moved, use a long-handled shovel to place it in a garbage
bag, and place the bag in an outdoor garbage can.
-
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.
-
SEE A PHYSICIAN if you become ill with a high fever
and/or swollen lymph node. Plague is a treatable illness.
-
SEE A VETERINARIAN if your pet becomes ill with a high
fever and/or an abscess (open sore). Pets with plague can transmit the illness
to humans.
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.
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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