Posted on 07/14/2020 8:15:01 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Colorado health officials announced a squirrel in the state tested positive for the bubonic plague. Health officials reported the squirrel was the first documented case of the disease in the Town of Morrison in Jefferson County.
Bubonic plague is an infectious illness caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria. Scientists said the disease spreads through bites of infected fleas and can affect not only humans but also household animals.
The World Health Organization explained those suffering from the disease experience their lymph nodes getting inflamed. The painful swollen glands are, in some countries, called "bubo."
While the disease is highly infectious, health officials stated the risk of getting infected is "extremely low" if people observe proper precautions. They added among household animals, cats are highly vulnerable to plague and can die if they are not promptly treated with antibiotics.
Aside from flea bites, felines can contract bubonic plague from a rodent bite or scratch. Ingestion of a contaminated rodent can also cause infection. Dogs are, however, not as vulnerable to the plague. But, they may unknowingly pick up the plague-infected fleas from rodents or felines. As for humans, they can get the infection through bites from animals or fleas, health officials wrote.
The public health department told pet owners to consult their veterinarian if they think their pet is sick. Officials also advised pet owners living within close proximity to wildlife habitats, like prairie dog colonies, to seek advice from a veterinarian about flea control. Health officials reminded everyone to take precautions when handling their sick pets.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibtimes.com ...
It is well known for many years that squirrels in California have the plague. Apparently we dont get enough cold weather to kill the virus.
Capture it and let it loose in Portland
This is not uncommon in Colorado. Just don’t touch dead animals, especially squirrels and prairie dogs.
"Bullwinkle I dont feel so good!"
Found it during a routine physical no doubt.
Actually it’s the fleas on the rodents that spread the plague.
Do you want the poor tree rat to catch something worse?
We do here in Nor Cal, where it get down to below zero during the Winter. No fleas here.
WELL LET’S SHUT DOWN THE G-D COUNTRY.
If only it had worn a mask. :-(
I am waiting to gear Fauci demand the country be shut down due to this.
Not kidding, will be waiting to see this come across the wires.
There. Fixed it.
Don’t worry!
They’ll bring it here soon enough...
We also get down to zero here in Chicago; our last dog had fleas multiple times. Our previous before her never had them, and our current is on Bravecto.
I’m over fleas. It was awful.
I should have been more specific, Southern California. I recall being warned about the plague in squirrels since the late 70s.
LOL! I thought this was the new excuse to shut down the economy. Squirrels can’t provide testimony to refute Dr. Fauci, I think!
sigh ... more panic porn ... plague is endemic to Colorado rodents, and it’s absolutely no big deal here ... it’s like rabies being endemic in the southeastern states ...
human infection occurs upon occasion, usually when idiots let their dogs run loose in prairie dog colonies afflicted with plague-laden fleas, where the fleas hop onto the dogs and then onto their owners ...
even then, human deaths from plague are almost non-existent because plague is easily treatable with common antibiotics and is relatively easy to diagnose here ...
LoL!
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