Plague activity detected at Broomfield open space - Broomfield Enterprise

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Plague activity was reported and confirmed,at the Great Western Reservoir Open Space, Broomfield Open Space and Trails officials reported this week.

Broomfield Public Health and Environment reported sylvatic plague activity July 10 at the open space.

The site, east of Indiana Street and south of State Highway 128, is not open to the public, Broomfield stated in an email community update sent Monday. Public health officials remind the public to avoid contact with any wildlife, including touching sick or dead animals, and to follow recommended safety measures to protect family members and pets, including keeping dogs on leashes.

Broomfield’s discovery came a day before a squirrel found in Morrison on July 11 tested positive for the bubonic plague.

Jefferson County Public Health confirmed it is the first known case of the plague in the county this year, according to the Denver Post. It’s not an uncommon sickness to see in rodents year to year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, scientists believe the plague bacteria circulates in low rates of rodent populations regularly.

Both humans and household animals can become infected with the plague without proper precautions, the article states. Humans may become sick with the plague through bites from infected fleas, a cough from an infected animal, or direct contact — such as a bite — with the blood or tissue of an infected animal, according to the health department.

“Plague occurs naturally in Colorado and is an infectious bacterial disease spread by fleas when they bite wild rodents and other small mammals such as squirrels, rats, prairie dogs, and rabbits,” Broomfield said in it’s update. “Plague can also spread to humans when an infected flea bites a human.”

The first case of human plague infection in the state since 2015 was diagnosed earlier this summer in a resident from southwest Colorado who had exposure to sick squirrels, according to a release from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The patient had septicemic plague, which is in the blood and cannot be spread to other people. The resident recovered, and no other cases were identified.

Broomfield officials ask that residents report any unusual wildlife activity to Broomfield Animal Services at 303-438-6400. For more information on Broomfield’s Prairie Dog Policies for Conservation and Management, email openspace@broomfield.org.

Since Great Western Open Space is not open to the public, signs will be posted in the area as a precautionary measure to avoid exposure to fleas potentially infected with plague.

“Please avoid touching any sick or dead animals and follow recommended safety measures to protect your pets and family members,” Broomfield Public Health Director Jason Vahling said.

Public health officials recommend the following precautions to reduce the likelihood of being exposed to plague:

● Avoid contact with any sick or dead wild animals.● Avoid fleas. Protect your pets by using a veterinary-approved preventive flea treatment.● Use insect repellent that contains DEET to prevent flea bites.● Tuck pant cuffs into socks to prevent flea bites.● Keep your dogs on a leash when outside.● Prevent rodent infestations around your house by clearing away debris and trash.● Seek medical attention if you or your pet become ill with symptoms such as a high fever, extremefatigue and/or swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms typically appear one to six days after being infected with the plague bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics when recognized early.

For more information about plague, please visit broomfieldhealth.org or call COHELP, the statewide public health information line at 1-877-462-2911.

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