Colorado bubonic plague case confirmed

The majority of cases tended to be scattered across rural areas and clustered in two regions: northern New Mexico, northern Arizona and southern Colorado; California, southern Oregon and far West Nevada.


A woman living in La Plata County tested positive for bubonic plague on Friday. It’s the first case of bubonic plague in the county since 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Claire Macpherson, spokeswoman for San Juan Basin Health Department, said the woman was hospitalized with plague-like symptoms on Saturday.

Classical symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, headache, chills, weakness and one or more swollen and tender painful lymph nodes; these are called “buboes,” giving bubonic plague its name.

Doctors sent blood samples to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment for testing. The state confirmed that they had identified bubonic plague in her blood culture on Friday. The woman has since been treated with antibiotics and released from the hospital.


Plague-ridden fleas hold the greatest danger for humans.
Public health officials are warning locals to take precautions against the disease. Though it’s summer, Macpherson urged people going outside to protect themselves by wearing long pants, long sleeves and a layer of bug spray that is at least 30 percent DEET – especially if you’re going into areas where there are prairie dogs.


She said it is critical that dog owners make sure their pets are free of fleas.


[link to durangoherald.com]

Last Edited by 2/3s of 2/3s on 08/10/2014 01:01 PM