A Plague Of Squirrels
Actually, it's worse than that. It is actually squirrels with plague. A dead squirrel found in downtown Denver, Colorado died from bubonic plague.
DENVER — A dead tree squirrel found near City Park east of downtown Denver tested positive for bubonic plague, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health.
A person near the park noticed several dead squirrels in the neighborhood and reported the die off to Denver Animal Control..
In a release, John Pape, an epidemiologist who specializes in animal-related diseases for the department's Disease Control and Environmental Epidemiology Division, said, "Plague is a disease seen every year among rodent populations in rural areas of Colorado, including the Front Range. It is unusual to find plague in the center of an urban area although it has happened before." In Colorado, plague-infected animals are most likely found in the foothills and mountains, he added.
The risk to humans is small, but it is there. Authorities are warning residents of Denver not to touch dead rodents or rabbits and to keep their pets away from them. If you must pick up a dead animal, wear gloves and put the carcass in a plastic bag. Call the CO-HELP (Colorado Health Education Line for the Public) at 877-462-2911 to report a dead animal. (Obviously, it is also a very good idea to seek medical treatment at once if bitten or scratched, but that is a pretty rare occurrence. Keep an eye on your pets, though.) Pass the word to anyone you know in Denver.
By SDN, Saturday, 28 April , 2007 @ 8:04 pm
Specifically, make sure your pet’s flea protection is at maximum. And if you even think your house is infested, call the exterminator NOW. Fleas are, of course, the primary vector for plague infection.
By Gaius, Saturday, 28 April , 2007 @ 8:17 pm
Good advice.