In a recent development, health officials in Pueblo County, Colorado have confirmed a human case of the plague. The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE) is working closely with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to investigate the case, according to a press release.

At this point, no specific information has been provided regarding the person who contracted the plague. However, Alicia Solis, program manager of the Office of Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness at PDPHE, urges individuals to take precautions to protect themselves and their pets from the disease.

The bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is believed to have been introduced to North America around 1900 through rats on ships from South Asia. Since then, it has become endemic in ground squirrels and rodents in the rural Southwestern United States, according to Timothy Brewer, M.D., a professor of medicine and epidemiology at UCLA.

While the disease can affect individuals of all ages, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that half of the cases involve patients between the ages of 12 and 45. Globally, the World Health Organization receives reports of 1,000 to 2,000 plague cases each year, with only an average of seven cases reported annually in the United States.

If left untreated, the plague has a fatality rate ranging from 30% to 60%. However, with the administration of antibiotics, the fatality rate drops below 5%. Symptoms of the plague typically include severe headache, fever and chills, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and swollen lymph nodes.

According to Erica Susky, a certified infection control practitioner, the plague can be transmitted through droplets from an infected person to another individual. However, the more common risk of exposure in the United States is through contact with pets, rodents, and fleas. Pets can become infected when encountering an infected flea or rodent and may pass it along to their owners through a bite or if the pet itself falls ill.

Additionally, hunting poses another risk of exposure, as the bacterium can be spread through infected body fluids while skinning animals. Dust contaminated by dried rodent urine or feces can also transmit the infection when inhaled, warns Brewer.

To prevent the spread of the plague, it is advised to avoid contact with rodents and fleas, including dead rodents. Erica Susky suggests ensuring homes are rodent-proof by eliminating places where rodents may enter and hide. Keeping pets indoors whenever possible is recommended, and if they must be outdoors, they should be leashed. Swift treatment is also crucial if pets are infested with fleas or show signs of illness.

As health officials continue their investigation into the confirmed case of the plague in Pueblo County, it is important for individuals and pet owners to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their furry companions from this potentially deadly disease.