Colorado health officials said they are investigating a rare case of human plague infection.
The health department said preliminary testing revealed the case in Pueblo County, about 50 miles south of Colorado Springs.
Bubonic plague is caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis and can be life-threatening to humans. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bubonic plague is typically spread by the bite of infected fleas or by handling infected animals.
Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, weakness and one or more swollen or painful lymph nodes, health officials said.
According to the CDC, plague can be cured with prompt treatment with antibiotics, so it’s important to seek medical attention immediately if you have any of the above symptoms.
Plague vaccine no longer available in the U.S.
Health officials offered the following tips for prevention:
- Eliminate places where rodents can hide or breed around your home, garage, shed, or recreational areas: Remove brush, rock piles, trash, and wood piles.
- Avoid contact with dead animals. If you must handle a sick or dead animal, follow these guidelines: First, apply insect repellent to protect against fleas. Next, use a long-handled shovel to put the carcass into a garbage bag. Finally, place the bag in an outdoor trash can.
- To prevent flea bites, use an insect repellent that contains 20% to 30% DEET. Apply it to pants, socks, the tops of shoes, arms, and legs.
- Do not let pets sleep in the bed.
- Treat your dogs and cats for fleas regularly. Flea collars have not been proven to be effective.
- Do not allow your pet to hunt or roam in rodent habitats, such as prairie dog colonies.
- Store pet food in rodent-proof containers.
The plague, also known as the Black Death, is known for killing millions in medieval Europe, but cases of human infection are now rare, the CDC said.
According to CDC data, an average of seven cases of plague occur in the United States each year, with most of them occurring in northern New Mexico and Arizona.
Authorities said earlier this year that a man in New Mexico had died after contracting bubonic plague.
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