Quantcast
Published On: Fri, Jul 18th, 2014

Colorado reports three more plague cases, all had contact with dog that died

In a follow-up to a story last week of a Colorado man and his pet dog who contracted plague, The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has identified three additional Colorado residents positive for plague, bringing the total to four cases.

Yersinia pestis bacteria, which was grown on a medium of sheep’s blood agar (SBA) Image/CDC

Yersinia pestis bacteria, which was grown on a medium of sheep’s blood agar (SBA) Image/CDC

The investigation of the original case identified three individuals, each of whom had direct contact with the previously reported dog that had died of plague. They all had mild symptoms, were treated with appropriate antibiotics, recovered, and no longer are contagious. The initial patient, who had pneumonic plague, remains hospitalized.

The dog likely was exposed to a prairie dog or rabbit with plague-infected fleas in eastern Adams County.

Tri-County Health Department officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are continuing to work together to investigate these cases and prevent further illnesses. Although person-to-person transmission of plague is extremely rare, individuals who may have been exposed through close contact with the four cases have been identified, and have received antibiotic treatment or are being monitored for symptoms when indicated.

Plague is spread by fleas from rodents, most commonly prairie dogs. Flea samples recently collected from eastern Adams County tested positive for plague bacteria. Tri-County Health Department staff members have gone door-to-door in the area with information about plague and to assess prairie dog populations. People and pets walking in open spaces and trails should avoid contact with prairie dogs, rabbits and other rodents.

Contact your physician if you develop a high fever and other plague symptoms following a fleabite or direct contact with dead rodents, or exposure to a sick cat or dog that may have had contact with plague-infected rodents.

LISTEN: Talking plague and the situation in New Mexico with Dr. Paul Ettestad

Symptoms of plague include a sudden onset of high fever, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, or a general feeling of being ill. Individuals with pneumonic plague (the lung form) develop fever, headache, weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing, which can lead to respiratory failure. Pneumonic plague is the most serious form of the disease and is the only form of plague that can be spread from person to person (by infectious droplets from coughing). Although human cases occur infrequently, plague can be severe and potentially life-threatening if not detected and quickly treated with common antibiotics.

Related story: Congo, Madagascar top countries reporting most plague 2000-2009, US reports 57 cases

Plague often is identified when there is an unusual die-off of prairie dogs in an area. When an infected animal dies, the fleas leave the carcass to find another host, thus spreading the disease. Most human plague cases occur when humans are bitten by infected fleas. Less commonly, people are infected by direct contact with blood or tissues from an infected animal or from pets (primarily cats) that become infected and transmit the disease. Since 1957, Colorado has identified 60 cases of human plague, nine (15 percent) of which were fatal. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page

 

On the DISPATCH: Headlines  Local  Opinion

Subscribe to Weekly Newsletter

* indicates required
/ ( mm / dd ) [ALL INFO CONFIDENTIAL]

About the Author

- Writer, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch. Robert has been covering news in the areas of health, world news and politics for a variety of online news sources. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the website, Outbreak News Today and hosts the podcast, Outbreak News Interviews on iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify Robert is politically Independent and a born again Christian Follow @bactiman63

Displaying 8 Comments
Have Your Say
  1. Mountain Lion and Coati are the latest animal plague deaths reported in New Mexico - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] Mexico’s neighbors to the north, Colorado, has reported four human plague cases so far in […]

  2. Kia: 52000 Soul vehicles recalled due to steering issues – The Global Dispatch | Everyday News Update says:

    […] […]

  3. Three Additional Colorado Residents Identified with Plague – KREX News Channel 5 | Weight Loss Diet Plan says:

    […] The Global Dispatch […]

  4. Three Additional Colorado Residents Identified with Plague – KREX News Channel 5 | HNP says:

    […] The Global Dispatch […]

  5. Three Additional Colorado Residents Identified with Plague – KREX News Channel 5 | Amazing News says:

    […] The Global Dispatch […]

  6. Three more cases of rare human plague found in Colorado – Chicago Tribune | Weight Loss Diet Plan says:

    […] The Global Dispatch […]

  7. Three more cases of rare human plague found in Colorado – Reuters | Weight Loss Diet Plan says:

    […] Cases Confirmed in ColoradoTIMEFour People in Colorado Caught the PlagueThe Wire9NEWS.com -The Global Dispatch -KXRMall 13 news […]

  8. Three more cases of rare human plague found in Colorado – Reuters | Amazing News says:

    […] Cases Confirmed in ColoradoTIMEFour People in Colorado Caught the PlagueThe Wire9NEWS.com -The Global Dispatch -KXRMall 12 news […]

Leave a comment

XHTML: You can use these html tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

like_us_on_facebook

 

The Global Dispatch Facebook page- click here

Movie News Facebook page - click here

Television News Facebook page - click here

Weird News Facebook page - click here 

DISPATCH RADIO

dispatch_radio

THE BRANDON JONES SHOW

brandon_jones_show-logo

Archives