In breaking news, officials in Pueblo County, Colorado, have confirmed a case of plague in a local resident, as reported on Tuesday.
The case came to light last Friday with preliminary test results raising concerns. The source of the infection is currently under investigation, as stated in a news release by the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment.
Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and transmitted by fleas, has a historic association with “The Black Death” that devastated Europe in the Middle Ages. However, the disease now primarily circulates among wild rodents and rarely affects humans, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Transmission of plague to humans can occur through flea bites, contact with infected animals, or inhaling droplets from an infected person or animal.
Individuals showing symptoms of sudden fever, chills, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and swollen lymph nodes with pain should seek medical attention promptly, advises the CDC.
Alicia Solis, program manager at the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment, emphasized the importance of prompt treatment with antibiotics to prevent serious complications or death.
To prevent infection, the department recommends eliminating habitats for wild rodents near human dwellings, such as brush, rock piles, trash, or lumber piles.
Furthermore, taking precautions with pets, such as treating them for fleas, using rodent-proof containers for pet food, and avoiding areas where rodents may be present, can also reduce the risk of transmission.
According to the CDC, there have been 67 reported cases of plague in Colorado from 1970 to 2022. Globally, the World Health Organization identified 3,248 human plague cases from 2010 to 2015 in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Peru.
Despite the lack of a plague vaccine in the US, efforts are underway to develop new vaccines, but they are not expected to be available for commercial use in the near future.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
