Case of human plague confirmed in Pueblo

(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) have confirmed a human case of plague in Pueblo County.

On Wednesday, July 3 it was announced that PDPHE and CDPHE were investigating after initial test results came back positive. PDPHE is continuing to investigate a potential source of the plague and is cautioning the public to take the following precautions:

• Eliminate places where rodents can hide and breed around your home, garage, shed, or recreation area.  Remove brush, rock piles, trash, and piles of lumber.
• Avoid contact with dead animals. If you must handle sick or dead animals follow these guidelines. First, put on an insect repellant to protect yourself from fleas. Then use a long-handled shovel to place it in a garbage bag. Lastly, place the bag in an outdoor garbage can.
• Use insect repellent that contains 20%-30% DEET to prevent flea bites. Treat pants, socks, shoe tops, arms, and legs.
• Do not let pets sleep in bed with you.
• Treat dogs and cats for fleas regularly. Flea collars have not been proven effective.
• Do not allow pets to hunt or roam in rodent areas, such as prairie dog colonies.
• Keep pet food in rodent-proof containers.

According to PDPHE, the symptoms of plague include sudden fever and chills, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and a feeling of illness, another common symptom is swollen lymph nodes with pain.

If you do experience symptoms of plague, PDPHE advises you to see a health care provider immediately. Plague can be treated with antibiotics, but PDPHE said an infected person must be treated promptly to avoid serious complications or death.

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