Seasonal Diseases Hit Boulder County Animals
June 14, 2006, Boulder — Two squirrels and one
prairie dog tested positive for rodent diseases in Boulder County today.
Two squirrels in Lafayette have been confirmed positive for
tularemia,
and one prairie dog in Boulder has tested positive for
plague.
This is the third positive case of plague and the first two positive
cases of tularemia identified in Boulder County this year. There have
been no positive cases of either disease in humans in Boulder County.
“Both diseases are typically found in animals, especially rodents,
rabbits, and hares,” said Gabi Hoefler, Boulder County Public Health
(BCPH) Environmental Health Specialist. “We will be posting signs in
both affected areas warning people to take precautions and not to handle
any dead or sick animals.”
Tularemia, like plague, can be passed to humans or animals through the
bite of infected insects, most commonly ticks and deer flies, and by
handling infected, sick, or dead animals. “The disease can also be
passed to people or animals if they eat meat or drink water infected by
the virus, which is especially important for hunters who prepare their
game,” said Hoefler.
BCPH officials stress that because both diseases occur naturally in
Colorado, awareness is key to reducing the risk of contracting either
disease. Avoiding contact with fleas, ticks, and any sick or dead
animals will reduce the risk of exposure to both diseases.
“Simple precautions can prevent these illnesses,” said BCPH
Epidemiologist Heath Harmon. “Tularemia and plague can be treated with
antibiotics, but we really want residents to know what steps to take to
protect themselves and their pets in the first place.”
People with tularemia may have symptoms that include an ulcer, sudden
fever, chills, headache, body aches, dry cough, and progressive
weakness. Symptoms of tularemia in animals, specifically cats and dogs,
are nearly identical to the symptoms of plague. Cats generally become
lethargic, have a high fever and have little appetite. They may also
experience pneumonia and swollen lymph nodes. Like with plague, dogs
generally do not show any symptoms of the disease.
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.
BCPH recommends the following to protect against these diseases:
-
AVOID TICKS & FLEAS! The best protection for pets, especially cats,
is to keep them indoors. If outdoors with your pets, keeping them out of
heavily wooded areas can provide additional protection, as these areas
are ideal places for ticks to live.
-
STAY OUT of areas that wild rodents inhabit. If you enter areas with
wild rodents, wear insect repellent containing DEET.
-
PREVENT your pets from hunting or eating wild rodents, especially
rabbits.
-
AVOID all contact with wild rodents, including squirrels and rabbits;
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 then place the bag in an outdoor garbage can.
-
AVOID drinking unpurified water from streams or lakes, and prevent
your pets from doing the same.
-
SEE A PHYSICIAN if you become ill with a high fever and/or a swollen
lymph nodes.
-
SEE A VETERINARIAN if your pet becomes ill with a high fever and/or
swollen lymph nodes.
There were three human cases of plague and six human cases of tularemia
in Colorado in 2005, and there has been one human case of tularemia in
2006 to date. None of these cases have been in Boulder County.
For more information about tularemia or plague:
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