Spring is here, and Archuleta County Public Health Department (ACPHD) would like to inform the community on certain communicable diseases which could impact citizens.
Plague is the first communicable disease that comes to mind as it spreads with ease and can be fatal. Although the disease can be deadly, it is preventable and curable.
Plague is spread by fleas coming from rodents, such as squirrels, rabbits and prairie dogs.
Fleas jump on new hosts, most commonly household pets, which are then transferred into your home. A flea bite can then infect you with the plague.
Symptoms of the plague can vary depending on how it is encountered. The most common symptoms are fever, headache, chills, swollen lymph nodes and weakness. If you live in an area with rodents or an area that has experienced a case of the plague, we recommend using these precautions:
• Clear personal property of places rodents like to live, such as brush piles, rocks, piles of firewood, clutter and/or any possible rodent food supply.
• Keep fleas off pets by keeping them up to date on adequate flea and tick prevention.
This is normally recommended by your veterinarian, or by using over-the-counter products as directed.
• Do not allow dogs or cats to roam free in infested areas, or sleep on beds or furniture.
• Wear gloves when handling potentially infected animals to prevent contact between skin and plague bacteria.
Because fleas will be looking for a new host, they will be looking for you. Avoid contact with deceased rodents if you are unaware of how they died.
Archuleta County is the second highest ranked county in cases with three cases in the last five years.
The ACPHD highly recommends having adequate flea and tick prevention for domestic animals, and not allowing them to lay on household furniture. Fleas are not always seen by the naked eye, so prevention is the best way to protect any household from the plague.
