(Salt Lake City, UT) – Utah public health officials have
confirmed that an elderly resident died from plague earlier this month. This is
the first Utah resident to be diagnosed with plague since 2009.
Plague is a rare, life-threatening, flea-borne illness that
is maintained in a rodent-flea transmission cycle. Species such as prairie dogs, black
footed-ferrets, squirrels, and rabbits are especially susceptible and
experience high mortality upon infection.
Plague is naturally occurring in Utah, and typically seen in the prairie
dog populations each year. Since April
1, 2015, a total of 12 cases of human plague have been reported in residents of
seven states: Arizona (two), California (one), Colorado (four), Georgia (one),
New Mexico (two), Oregon (one), and Utah (one). The two cases in Georgia and
the California resident have been linked to exposures at or near Yosemite
National Park. The investigation
continues into the circumstances surrounding the Utahn’s illness. The patient may have contracted the disease
from a flea, or contact a dead animal.
At this time, public health officials believe there was no travel
history indicating that the Utah resident traveled anywhere else where plague
is common.
Human plague occurs in areas where the bacteria are present
in wild rodent populations. The risks
are generally highest in rural and semi-rural areas, including campsites and
homes that provide food and shelter for various ground squirrels, chipmunks and
wood rats, or other areas where you may encounter rodents.
Plague is a very serious illness, but it is treatable with
commonly available antibiotics. The earlier a patient seeks marmedical care and
receives treatment that is appropriate for plague, the better the chance for a
full recovery. Some common symptoms may
include fever, headache, chills, and weakness. If you are experiencing
symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
To protect you, your family, and your pets:
• Reduce rodent
habitat around your home, work place, and recreational areas. Remove brush,
rock piles, junk, cluttered firewood, and possible rodent food supplies, such
as pet and wild animal food. Make your home and outbuildings rodent-proof.
• Always wear
gloves if you are handling or skinning wild animals to prevent contact between
your skin and potential plague bacteria. Contact your local health department
if you have questions about disposal of dead animals.
• Use
repellent if you think you could be exposed to rodent fleas during activities
such as camping, hiking, or working outdoors. Products containing DEET can be
applied to the skin as well as clothing and products containing permethrin can
be applied to clothing (always follow instructions on the label).
• Keep fleas
off of your pets by regularly applying flea control products. Animals that roam
freely are more likely to come in contact with plague-infected animals or fleas
and could bring them into homes. Keep pets away from wild animals. If your pet becomes sick, seek care from a
veterinarian as soon as possible.
• Do not allow
dogs or cats that roam free outside to sleep on your bed.
• Cook all
wild game meat properly to a minimum of 165F inner temperature.
• Clean and
disinfect all knives and equipment used to process wild game.
• Do not feed
raw game meat or inner organs to pets.
Notify your local Utah Division of Wildlife Resources if you
see an unusual number of dead prairie dogs, squirrels, or rabbits in any given
area. Contact information for local area
offices can be found at: http://wildlife.utah.gov/about-us/contact-us.html.
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Media Contact:
Charla Haley
(c) 801-230-5927
