CO: Bubonic Plague in Jefferson Co. dog park

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/20062718/detail.html

Plague Confirmed In Jefferson County Prairie Dog Population
Residents Urged To Take Precautions
Edited by Wayne Harrison, Web Editor
POSTED: 11:44 am MDT July 15, 2009

WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- A flea from a Westminster dog park has tested positive for Bubonic plague.

Jefferson County Public Health received the test results Wednesday. The flea was taken from a prairie dog die-off at the Westminster Hills Open Space/Dog Park at 105th Avenue and Simms Street.

"The area of concern includes the entire dog park and open space area from Simms Street west to Indiana Street," a news release from Nancy Braden, the public information officer for the Jefferson County Health Department.

Bubonic plague is transmitted via fleas that have bitten plague-infected wild rodents. It is an infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium.

The health department recommended that everyone living in or visiting the area in and around the Westminster Hills Open Space/Dog Park take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their pets from plague.

The affected area at the park has been closed to the public and posted with warning signs.

"There have been no reported human cases of plague in the area and if precautions are taken the disease is not considered to be a threat to humans," said Dr. Jim Dale, Director of Environmental Health Services.

Cats most commonly contract the disease from flea bites, a rodent scratch/bite, or ingestion of a rodent. Dogs are generally resistant to plague however, they may pick up and carry plague-infected fleas. Humans may be infected with plague through bites from infected fleas, by the cough from an infected animal, or by direct contact with infected animals.

Residents are urged to talk with their veterinarian regarding effective flea control products. People can protect themselves and their pets from plague by rodent-proofing their homes; maintaining litter and trash-free environments; storing food and garbage properly to prevent rodent access, and keeping domesticated animals indoors. When outside, pet owners should use insect repellant, keep their pets on leashes, and use flea control products on pets. If these precautions are taken, the probability of contracting plague is extremely low.

Symptoms of plague in humans occur within two to seven days after exposure. Those infected may experience fever, headache, weakness and rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath; chest pain; cough; and sometimes bloody or watery saliva. The pneumonia progresses for two-to-four days and may cause respiratory failure and shock. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult a physician.

Citizens are requested to report any unusual rodent die-offs to Jefferson County Public Health at 303....

 

[JimO]

Re: CO: Bubonic Plague in Jefferson Co. dog park

Is this common in the U.S.?

 

[hornblower]

Re: CO: Bubonic Plague in Jefferson Co. dog park

http://www.bouldercounty.org/health/hpe/cdc/healthAdvisory/pneumonicPlague/commonQandA.htm


Q. How is plague transmitted?

A. By fleas that become infected with bacteria Yersinia pestis that cause plague.


Q. How do people get plague?

A. By the bite of fleas infected with the plague bacteria.


Q. What is the basic transmission cycle?

A. Fleas become infected by feeding on rodents, such as chipmunks, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, mice, and other mammals that are infected with the bacteria Yersinia pestis. Fleas transmit the plague bacteria to humans and other mammals during the feeding process. The plague bacteria are maintained in the blood systems of rodents.



Q. Could you get plague from another person?

A. Yes, when the other person has plague pneumonia and coughs droplets containing the plague bacteria into air that is breathed by a non-infected person.



Q. What are the signs and symptoms of plague?

A. The typical sign of the most common form of human plague is a swollen and very tender lymph gland, accompanied by pain. The swollen gland is called a "bubo" (hence the term "bubonic plague"). Bubonic plague should be suspected when a person develops a swollen gland, fever, chills, headache, and extreme exhaustion, and has a history of possible exposure to infected rodents, rabbits, or fleas.



Q. What is the incubation period for plague?

A. A person usually becomes ill with bubonic plague 2 to 6 days after being infected. When bubonic plague is left untreated, plague bacteria invade the bloodstream. When plague bacteria multiply in the bloodstream, they spread rapidly throughout the body and cause a severe and often fatal condition. Infection of the lungs with the plague bacterium causes the pneumonic form of plague, a severe respiratory illness. The infected person may experience high fever, chills, cough, and breathing difficulty, and expel bloody sputum. If plague patients are not given specific antibiotic therapy, the disease can progress rapidly to death.



Q. What is the mortality rate of plague?

A. About 14% (1 in 7) of all plague cases in the United States are fatal.



Q. How many cases of plague occur in the U.S.?

A. Human plague in the United States has occurred as mostly scattered cases in rural areas (an average of 10 to 20 persons each year). Globally, the World Health Organization reports 1,000 to 3,000 cases of plague every year.


Q. How common is plague in Colorado?

A. Since 1996 there have been 8 cases of plague in Colorado, including the case in August 2004.



Q. How is plague treated?

A. According to treatment experts, a patient diagnosed with suspected plague should be hospitalized and medically isolated. Laboratory tests should be done, including blood cultures for plague bacteria and microscopic examination of lymph gland, blood, and sputum samples.

Antibiotic treatment should begin as soon as possible after laboratory specimens are taken. Streptomycin is the antibiotic of choice. Persons who have been in close contact with a plague patient, particularly a patient with plague pneumonia, should be identified and evaluated. The U.S. Public Health Service requires that all cases of suspected plague be reported immediately to local and state health departments and that the diagnosis be confirmed by CDC. As required by the International Health Regulations, CDC reports all U.S. plague cases to the World Health Organization.



Q. Is the disease seasonal in its occurrence?

A. No, plague can be acquired at anytime during the year.



Q. Where is plague most common?

A. Generally, plague is most common in the southwestern states, particularly New Mexico and Arizona.

Q. Who is at risk for getting plague?

A. Outbreaks in humans occur in areas where housing and sanitation conditions are poor. These outbreaks can occur in rural communities or in cities. They are usually associated with infected rats and rat fleas that live in the home.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: CO: Bubonic Plague in Jefferson Co. dog park

Source: http://denver.yourhub.com/Morrison/Stories/News/Government/Story~648853.aspx

Plague found in Jeffco prairie dog population

Contributed by: Jeffco Public Health Services on 8/21/2009

Jefferson County Public Health received confirmationAug. 20 that flea specimens collected from a prairie dog die-off in the Littleton are have tested positive for bubonic plague.

The area of concern is a vacant lot at southwest corner of Ken Caryl Avenue and Simms Street in Littleton.The area is being posted today and citizens are reminded to take simple precautions to avoid exposure.

Plague is a highly infectious bacterial disease carried by various types of wild rodents and is transmitted primarily by flea bites."Squirrels, rodents, prairie dogs and other mammals, such as rabbits and cats are susceptible to plague because they get fleas," explains Dr. Jim Dale, DVM, MPH, Director of Environmental Health Services.

Although extremely rare, humans may be infected with plague through bites from infected fleas, by the cough from an infected animal, or by direct contact (i.e. through a bite) with blood or tissues of infected animals. Therefore, it is important for the public to follow precautions to further reduce any risk of exposure.

Prevention: The best way to prevent plague is to control the presence of rodents and fleas in and around the home. In addition, people should avoid contact with any species of wild rodents, especially sick or dead rodents. Dogs and cats should be confined so they cannot prey on infected rodents and then bring the disease home with them. Pet owners who live close to rodent populations should use flea control products recommended by their veterinarian. Controlling fleas on pets will prevent the transfer of fleas to humans. If these reasonable precautions are taken, the probability of contracting plague is extremely low.

Symptoms: Plague is easily treated in humans with antibiotics when recognized early. Two to six days after being infected with plague, people become ill with the following symptoms: sudden onset of high fever; muscle pain; malaise, or a general feeling of being ill; nausea and vomiting. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult a physician immediately.

Jefferson County Public Health will continue its plague surveillance of rodent populations in the County. Citizens are requested to report any unusual rodent die-offs to Jefferson County Public Health at 303-271-5700.

For more information:
Jefferson County Public Health Environmental Health Services 303-271-5700 or www.jeffco.us/health

 

[Farmer]

Re: CO: Bubonic Plague in Jefferson Co. dog park

Is this common in the U.S.?

Plague is currently endemic (the disease has been established and is maintained) in wildlife in the western part of the US. Sporadic cases among people and pets occur every year.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/index.htm