Public Closure of Force Zones of Prairie-Infected Prairie Dogs Near Denver

Fleas infected with plague affecting prairie dog colonies have imposed forced closures in parts of Colorado, including wild animal reserves and a suburb of Denver, authorities claiming that fleas could transmit the disease to domestic animals and humans.

The Rocky Mountain National Arsenal Wildlife Refuge was forced to temporarily close as a "precautionary measure" last month while it was tackling the problem of prairie dog colonies and their ferrets in danger, including refuge and food. US Fish & Wildlife Service said Saturday. With a few exceptions, the park has reopened its visitors, but other areas will remain closed while authorities tackle the problem.

According to the Tri-County Health Department, some places in Commerce City – a suburb of Denver – will remain closed, as will the First Creek at DEN Open Space. These closures will remain in place until the end of Labor Day, the health department announced.

"The prairie dog colonies are monitored and the burrows are treated with insecticide, but there is still evidence of fleas in hiking and camping areas, which could endanger people and pets, so these areas will remain closed, "John M. Douglas, Jr., executive director of the Tri-County Health Department, said in a statement.

According to the Washington Post, the initiative involves treating burrows with an insecticide powder that, when swept by prairie dogs, can kill fleas. In addition, David Lucas of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Area told the Washington Post that, aside from insecticide treatments, "this secondary effort is to try to prevent the spread of this disease in the landscape" .

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, human cases of plague – which is caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis– are mainly reported in the west of the country, particularly in parts of Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Oregon. On average, seven cases of plague-infected persons are reported in the United States each year, the most common being bubonic, pneumonic and septicemic.

The symptoms of plague may vary by form, but include fever, chills, weakness, abdominal or chest pain, and headaches, among others; However, the CDC notes that, especially in septic and pneumonic plague strains, there is often "no obvious sign indicating a plague".

Plague can be serious and even deadly in humans, but it can be treated with antibiotics. According to the CDC, the more a person seeks treatment quickly, the more likely they are to recover fully.