Cat found with bubonic plague in Jefferson County

An Evergreen house cat tested positive for bubonic plague last week, according to Jefferson County Public Health.

The health department said the cat remains near Bergen Mountain Road and Stagecoach Boulevard, near Elk Meadow Park. It further indicated that the cat may have been infected after encountering a sick rodent, possibly a rat.

"While plague is a serious disease and cases of animal-borne illness in domestic pets are never something we like to see, it is normal and expected for some animals to contract plague in Jefferson County each year," Jim Rada, director of Environmental Health Services at Jefferson County Public Health, said through a statement.

Rada added that "the good news is that modern antibiotics are effective against plague and, provided it is treated promptly, serious complications, illness or death can be avoided".

It should be noted that bubonic plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It can be contracted by humans and pets through the bites of infected fleas, by coughing from an infected animal, as well as by direct contact with blood or tissues of animals with the disease.

The health department said plague symptoms in people can include the sudden onset of high fever, chills, headache, nausea and extreme pain and swollen lymph nodes, occurring two to seven days after exposure.

In light of the above, the health department urges you to take the following precautions so that you and your pet can avoid plague:

• Eliminate all sources of food, shelter and access for wild animals in the home.
• Do not feed wild animals.
• Keep your yard free of trash to reduce wildlife habitats.
• Avoid contact with sick or dead wild animals and rodents.
• Use caution when handling sick pets.
• Consult a veterinarian about flea and tick control for pets.
• Avoid allowing pets to roam freely outside the home, where they may feed on wild animals and carry the disease home.
• Do not let dogs off leash in the wild or in parks and open spaces.
• Whenever possible, keep cats indoors and do not let them roam freely in the neighborhood.