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Plague found in Boulder County prairie dog colonies
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 11:44 a.m., April 2, 2008
Updated 11:44 a.m., April 2, 2008
Fleas in prairie dog colonies in Boulder County have tested positive for plague, prompting plans to spray the area and to remind people to stay clear.
It's the first confirmation of plague so far this year in Colorado, said Nisha Alden, an epidemiologist for Boulder County Public Health.
Health officials collected the fleas on Friday from colonies north of the city along Spine Road and White Rock Circle.
They've posted signs and plan to apply a pesticide to the prairie dog burrows.
Plague occurs naturally in Colorado, but is increasingly worrisome as housing developments move closer to prairie dog colonies and the habitats of rodents.
Plague most commonly is found at elevations of 5,500 to 8,000 feet in pinon, juniper and ponderosa pine habitat, typical of the foothills of the Front Range.
Fleas spread plague to wild rodents, squirrels, prairie dogs and rabbits. The most common form of plague in this area is bubonic plague.
Symptoms include high fever, extreme fatigue, and painful swollen lymph nodes called bubos. Plague can be treated with antibiotics, the sooner the better.
On rare occasions, cats can transmit plague to people.
Keeping cats indoors is the best way to protect them from plague, said Carol McInnes, an environmental health specialist for Boulder County Public Health.
Tips to protect pets and people from the plague:
? Avoid fleas: Protect pets with flea powder, and keep pets on a leash and 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 pants cuffs into socks to prevent flea bites.
? Avoid all contact with wild rodents, including squirrels; do not feed or handle them.
? Do not touch sick or dead animals.
? 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.
Source: Boulder County Public Health
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Plague found in Boulder County prairie dog colonies
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 11:44 a.m., April 2, 2008
Updated 11:44 a.m., April 2, 2008
Fleas in prairie dog colonies in Boulder County have tested positive for plague, prompting plans to spray the area and to remind people to stay clear.
It's the first confirmation of plague so far this year in Colorado, said Nisha Alden, an epidemiologist for Boulder County Public Health.
Health officials collected the fleas on Friday from colonies north of the city along Spine Road and White Rock Circle.
They've posted signs and plan to apply a pesticide to the prairie dog burrows.
Plague occurs naturally in Colorado, but is increasingly worrisome as housing developments move closer to prairie dog colonies and the habitats of rodents.
Plague most commonly is found at elevations of 5,500 to 8,000 feet in pinon, juniper and ponderosa pine habitat, typical of the foothills of the Front Range.
Fleas spread plague to wild rodents, squirrels, prairie dogs and rabbits. The most common form of plague in this area is bubonic plague.
Symptoms include high fever, extreme fatigue, and painful swollen lymph nodes called bubos. Plague can be treated with antibiotics, the sooner the better.
On rare occasions, cats can transmit plague to people.
Keeping cats indoors is the best way to protect them from plague, said Carol McInnes, an environmental health specialist for Boulder County Public Health.
Tips to protect pets and people from the plague:
? Avoid fleas: Protect pets with flea powder, and keep pets on a leash and 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 pants cuffs into socks to prevent flea bites.
? Avoid all contact with wild rodents, including squirrels; do not feed or handle them.
? Do not touch sick or dead animals.
? 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.
Source: Boulder County Public Health
Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News
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