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Girl, 10, dies of plague as cases are confirmed in six counties in Colorado
- La Plata County girl died this month, authorities said
- Public health officials reported 22 cases of plague between 2005 and 2020
- The disease is spread by bacteria, often carried by fleas
- It has been present in Colorado since the 1940s
- In 2015, four people died from the disease, including two from Colorado
Colorado health officials are investigating a possible plague outbreak after a 10-year-old child died from the old disease earlier this month for the first time since 2015.
Plague, a disease caused by bacteria most commonly spread by fleas, has been confirmed in six different counties, according to lab results from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The deceased child lived in La Plata County in southwest Colorado.
“We are so sad for the loss of this young Coloradan and our deepest condolences go out to the family,” State Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer House said in a statement released by The Associated Press.
The bacteria that causes plague, Yersinia pestis, is usually carried by fleas
La Plata County, Colorado recorded nine cases of plague between 2005 and 2020
“Public health is conducting an epidemiological investigation and wants the Coloradans to know that although this disease is very rare, it does occur sometimes and to see a doctor if you have any symptoms.”
The state reported 22 cases of plague between 2005 and 2020.
Nine of them were in La Plata County.
In 2015, four people died from the plague nationwide, including two from Colorado: an adult in Pueblo County and a teenager in Larimer County, according to Colorado Public Radio.
Antibiotics are very effective against the disease, but they must be given within 24 hours of the first symptoms because infection can cause “serious illness or death,” according to Denver Public Health.
Most of the symptoms are very similar to the flu: fever, chills, headache, weakness, and cough.
The infection often results in painful or swollen lymph nodes and discoloration of the skin.
Those who live in the western United States, including Colorado, are most at risk of getting it, and seriously ill patients require “immediate intensive care.”
From 2005 to 2021, 568 animals tested positive for plague in Colorado, including 104 cats and dogs.
State health officials have not released a list of the six counties where the disease was most recently found, according to the Denver Post.
On May 18, DCPHE released a statement urging residents to take precautions after an infected squirrel was found in El Paso County.
“The plague has been around Colorado since at least the 1940s, and cases of wild rodents in the state are reported in most years,” Dr. House said.
“Although we see most of the plague activity during the summer, the disease can be found in rodents year round and sometimes spread to other wildlife as well as domestic cats and dogs.”
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