Bubonic Plague in Colorado

TTMartin · 07-19-2020, 04:25 PM

Squirrel in Colorado tests positive for the bubonic plague

A squirrel has tested positive for the bubonic plague in the Town of Morrison in Colorado, Jefferson County Public Health officials announced in a statement over the weekend. The squirrel, discovered on Saturday, is the first case of plague in Jefferson County, the statement said.

A spokesperson for Jefferson County Public Health told CBS News on Tuesday that someone in Morrison reported seeing at least 15 dead squirrels around the town. Officials tested one, and since it was positive for bubonic plague, they expect others are also infected.

In a statement, officials warned that plague, an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, can be contracted by humans and household animals. They said humans can be infected through flea bites, the cough of an infected animal or by coming in direct contact with blood or tissue from an infected animal.

Cats are highly susceptible to the plague and can catch it from flea bites or a rodent scratch or bite, or by ingesting a rodent. Cats may also die if not properly treated with antibiotics, officials said.

Dogs are not as susceptible to plague, according to the statement. However, dogs can pick up and carry fleas infected with the plague.

Officials advise pet owners who live near wild animal populations, or suspect their pets are ill, consult a veterinarian.

Mike G · 07-19-2020, 08:09 PM

If only those cussed squirrels would wear their masks.....

Thanks for letting us know. Colorado camping is sounding a bit stressful right now.

alanmalk · 07-19-2020, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike G

If only those cussed squirrels would wear their masks.....

Thanks for letting us know. Colorado camping is sounding a bit stressful right now.

No! No! No!

It's the fleas that need to wear the masks.

padlin · 07-19-2020, 08:46 PM

It's not as rare as I would have thought.

https://www.cdc.gov/plague/maps/index.html

Bobbie54 · 07-19-2020, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike G

If only those cussed squirrels would wear their masks.....

Thanks for letting us know. Colorado camping is sounding a bit stressful right now.

Bubonic plague is endemic in rodents in a lot of the SW. Not a big concern most of the time but every so often a person gets it.

C&G in FL · 07-19-2020, 09:38 PM

They typically have a couple of cases every year. And armadillos are know to carry/transmit leprosy. Both can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
There is a vaccine for bubonic plague. Had to get it when I was in the army. Probably the worst reaction I ever had to an inoculation, although the newest shingles vaccine which requires two shots a few months apart wasn’t particularly pleasant.

Patandlinda · 07-19-2020, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

They typically have a couple of cases every year. And armadillos are know to carry/transmit leprosy. Both can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
There is a vaccine for bubonic plague. Had to get it when I was in the army. Probably the worst reaction I ever had to an inoculation, although the newest shingles vaccine which requires two shots a few months apart wasn’t particularly pleasant.

Just got the shingles and it wasn’t very bad . Pat

gbaglo · 07-19-2020, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Just got the shingles and it wasn’t very bad . Pat

Wait for the second shot.

Rossue · 07-19-2020, 10:49 PM

Susan had a reaction almost immediately from first and nothing from second.

gbaglo · 07-19-2020, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossue

Susan had a reaction almost immediately from first and nothing from second.

Worse is having no reaction from the first and expecting the same from the second.

outwiththedogs · 07-19-2020, 11:01 PM

Last year a big 3-day music fest near Denver was significantly challenged due to plague in local prairie dogs. There is usually a huge camping scene but that was eliminated due to the risk. Seems to be ok after the prairie dog towns were flea dusted. It is a southwest issue that pops up regularly.
There’s always something.

Patandlinda · 07-19-2020, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Wait for the second shot.

Glenn never got the shot , didn’t know about it. The doctor said I probably wouldn’t get it again . What am I going to do

Pat

Rossue · 07-19-2020, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Glenn never got the shot , didn’t know about it. The doctor said I probably wouldn’t get it again . What am I going to do

Pat

Pat- you should get the second shot from 2-6 months after the first.

gbaglo · 07-19-2020, 11:37 PM

My wife got shingles some time ago and as bad as the second vaccination was for me, I'll take that over getting shingles any time.

Patandlinda · 07-20-2020, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbaglo

My wife got shingles some time ago and as bad as the second vaccination was for me, I'll take that over getting shingles any time.

Glenn I had the shingles about 2009 or 2010 can’t even remember anymore . It wasn’t too bad and I think the doctor said it was too late to get the shot since I already had it . He also said I probably wouldn’t get it anymore . Pat

Patandlinda · 07-20-2020, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossue

Pat- you should get the second shot from 2-6 months after the first.

Hi Ross look at what I told Glenn after you . Pat

HABBERDABBER · 07-20-2020, 07:24 AM

The wife of a sailing buddy got shingles......in her eyes, causing partial blindness. The virus follows nerve pathways, and the eyes have it. I heard that tale and ran to get the old 1 shot version, some years ago.

Upfisk · 07-20-2020, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Glenn I had the shingles about 2009 or 2010 can’t even remember anymore . It wasn’t too bad and I think the doctor said it was too late to get the shot since I already had it . He also said I probably wouldn’t get it anymore . Pat

Gary had the shingles in 1999 at age 50 something. His doctors told him he was a prime candidate to get it again as he gets older. Shingles was a bad experience for him and hundreds of times worse than the 2nd shot which laid us both up for 3 days.

C&G in FL · 07-20-2020, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Glenn never got the shot , didn’t know about it. The doctor said I probably wouldn’t get it again . What am I going to do

Pat

Pat....there is a previous 1 shot vaccine and a newer 2 shot vaccine which is purported to be more effective. I got the original and recently got both of the shots for the new vaccine, @ 2 months apart. Gail’s shoulder got very sore with both shots, soreness lasting 4 days. My shoulder got sore for both shots, same duration as Gail. But the day after the second shot I felt a bit “out of it“ and found I had a fever of 102°. It really wasn’t what I would call bad, but it wasn’t what I would call pleasant either.

Iowa Dave · 07-20-2020, 09:56 AM

We put off getting the shingles shot(s) for several years. Then my brother got shingles on his head and the doctor told him it could cause serious damage to his eyes etc. So in January about the 15th we got the first shot. Some soreness in my left (non drinking) arm. Not bad at all. Then the pandemic started up and we did not go back for number two right away. Our 6 month interval date was coming up and the pharmacy called and we made an appointment for a first customer of the day shot. Got that done about three or four weeks ago. My arm was very sore for about a week, I had several headaches and a low fever for about 4 days. Now I’m back to my old invincible self and glad I got the shots. Just not glad that I had to pay for them as my part D didn’t cover the cost and it cut into my fishing tackle budget. But looking back, I’m still glad I got the shots. I shifted gasoline budget money from not camping over to discretionary spending. (Read that craft beer and good whiskey). Not doing any fishing.
Iowa Dave

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