Tweet
Date: July 16, 2018
Contact: Christine Myron, Public Information Officer
Desk: (208) 327-8639 | Cell: (208) 871-1712
Elmore County cat likely died of plague infection
Elmore County — Laboratory tests indicate an Elmore County cat likely died from plague
infection. The cat was feral, but recently had been cared for by an Elmore County family as an
outdoor cat. The cat had known contact with ground squirrels, also known as “whistle pigs,”
before passing. Family members are being treated with antibiotics as a precaution.
Plague activity can increase in the spring and summer months when rodents are more active. In
May, an Elmore County child became infected with plague, and in June, an Elmore County pet
cat became infected. Both the child and pet cat received prompt medical treatment and made
full recoveries. It is most likely the child contracted plague in Oregon but an exact source was
not found.
While Idaho wildlife officials have not detected any ground squirrel die-offs in Idaho so far this
year, all three plague cases live within an area of southern Idaho identified as a plague-affected
area. This is a reminder that plague circulates in fleas, which can affect ground squirrels, voles,
and mice, every year in Idaho.
“In addition to protecting their own pets with flea control, people should avoid contact with feral
animals due to the risk of diseases like plague, said Sarah Correll, Epidemiologist with Central
District Health Department.” People can be exposed to plague when pets bring infected fleas
back into the home, by caring for a sick pet or feral animal without proper precautions, or by
contact with rodents carrying fleas,” said Correll.
Plague is transmitted through the bite of infected fleas and can cause serious illness in people
and pets if not treated promptly. It also can be transmitted to people by direct contact with
infected animals, including rodents, rabbits, and pets. Common rodents that can become
infected include ground squirrels, rats, voles, and mice. Tree squirrels in Idaho are not known to
carry plague.
...
http://www.cdhd.idaho.gov/pdfs/News/...ague-death.pdf
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https://dhwblog.com/2018/06/26/elmor...gue-infection/
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Plague killed a cat in S.W. Idaho, sickened a child. What is the plague? Why is it here?
July 16, 2018 05:35 PM
Updated July 16, 2018 05:49 PM
A cat died July 8 of the plague, Southwest Idaho health officials say, bringing to three the cases of plague identified this year in Elmore County.
Central District Health Department said Monday that a feral cat that an Elmore County family cared for as an outdoor pet died after contact with ground squirrels, which are known to carry the plague. Tests indicate plague, and family members are being treated with antibiotics as a precaution.
In May, a child in Elmore County contracted the plague, the first confirmed human case of plague in Idaho since 1992. In June, a pet cat was also identified as having plague. Both recovered after treatment.
For more than a century, the Western U.S. has had to deal with periodic outbreaks of the plague. Luckily, the number of cases are few (an average of seven annually in the U.S.) and modern medicine greatly reduces the risk of death.
...
https://www.idahostatesman.com/lates...214977790.html
Contact: Christine Myron, Public Information Officer
Desk: (208) 327-8639 | Cell: (208) 871-1712
Elmore County cat likely died of plague infection
Elmore County — Laboratory tests indicate an Elmore County cat likely died from plague
infection. The cat was feral, but recently had been cared for by an Elmore County family as an
outdoor cat. The cat had known contact with ground squirrels, also known as “whistle pigs,”
before passing. Family members are being treated with antibiotics as a precaution.
Plague activity can increase in the spring and summer months when rodents are more active. In
May, an Elmore County child became infected with plague, and in June, an Elmore County pet
cat became infected. Both the child and pet cat received prompt medical treatment and made
full recoveries. It is most likely the child contracted plague in Oregon but an exact source was
not found.
While Idaho wildlife officials have not detected any ground squirrel die-offs in Idaho so far this
year, all three plague cases live within an area of southern Idaho identified as a plague-affected
area. This is a reminder that plague circulates in fleas, which can affect ground squirrels, voles,
and mice, every year in Idaho.
“In addition to protecting their own pets with flea control, people should avoid contact with feral
animals due to the risk of diseases like plague, said Sarah Correll, Epidemiologist with Central
District Health Department.” People can be exposed to plague when pets bring infected fleas
back into the home, by caring for a sick pet or feral animal without proper precautions, or by
contact with rodents carrying fleas,” said Correll.
Plague is transmitted through the bite of infected fleas and can cause serious illness in people
and pets if not treated promptly. It also can be transmitted to people by direct contact with
infected animals, including rodents, rabbits, and pets. Common rodents that can become
infected include ground squirrels, rats, voles, and mice. Tree squirrels in Idaho are not known to
carry plague.
...
http://www.cdhd.idaho.gov/pdfs/News/...ague-death.pdf
------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://dhwblog.com/2018/06/26/elmor...gue-infection/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plague killed a cat in S.W. Idaho, sickened a child. What is the plague? Why is it here?
July 16, 2018 05:35 PM
Updated July 16, 2018 05:49 PM
A cat died July 8 of the plague, Southwest Idaho health officials say, bringing to three the cases of plague identified this year in Elmore County.
Central District Health Department said Monday that a feral cat that an Elmore County family cared for as an outdoor pet died after contact with ground squirrels, which are known to carry the plague. Tests indicate plague, and family members are being treated with antibiotics as a precaution.
In May, a child in Elmore County contracted the plague, the first confirmed human case of plague in Idaho since 1992. In June, a pet cat was also identified as having plague. Both recovered after treatment.
For more than a century, the Western U.S. has had to deal with periodic outbreaks of the plague. Luckily, the number of cases are few (an average of seven annually in the U.S.) and modern medicine greatly reduces the risk of death.
...
https://www.idahostatesman.com/lates...214977790.html