This summer, the Health Department has been monitoring a number of animal diseases that can infect humans, including plague. In Colorado, plague is a disease that often infects prairie dogs. And while the Health Department is not aware of any prairie dog colonies in the immediate area around Falcon, several colonies at and around Schriever Air Force Base were infected with plague in July.So, residents need to be informed so they can protect themselves from plague.The Health Department’s role in protecting our community from plague is three-fold:* Surveillance: This means that our staff monitors wild animal populations most likely to carry plague-such as prairie dogs.* Control: The Health Department takes steps to prevent the spread of plague once it is found.* Education: The Health Department works to educate the public about the steps they can take to avoid becoming infected with plague.What is bubonic plague?Bubonic plague is a bacterial infection transmitted to animals and humans through the bite of infected fleas. Plague came to be known as “Black Death” in the Middle Ages, and it killed millions throughout history until antibiotics were invented. Today, human plague cases and human deaths from plague are not common: El Paso County had one human death in 1978 and another in 1984, and two other cases in which the patients recovered.Plague is what we call endemic in El Paso County, meaning it’s around us in certain wild animals, and it could flare up at any time. That’s why the Health Department has mapped more than 60 prairie dog colonies in El Paso County and monitors them for signs of “die offs,” which can signal that plague has killed its animal hosts and the fleas that carry plague are looking for new hosts-such as dogs and cats that might wander through the colony-or even people. We use technology tools to do this mapping, including the Geographic Information System or GIS.Be watchful for prairie dog coloniesRight now, our mapping efforts have not identified prairie dog colonies in the immediate area of Falcon, but some could have gone undetected. So, if you are aware of any prairie dog colonies in your area, please call the Health Department to let us know. Other wild animals, such as tree squirrels, also can carry plague, so don’t try to catch or handle wild animals of any kind.When the Health Department finds a prairie dog die-off, our disease control experts use insecticide to kill the fleas remaining in the vicinity of the prairie dog colony, so that there is less chance of those plague-carrying fleas biting your pets and you. And we intensify our education efforts with the public by posting warning signs, delivering information fliers to homes and businesses around the colony and working with news media outlets to communicate the risk to the public.One more thing: Experts don’t recommend extermination of prairie dog colonies because once prairie dogs or any host dies, fleas start looking for new hosts, including your dog, cat or you. It’s best to leave the fleas where they are, on the prairie dogs, and for everyone else to stay away from the colonies.To prevent infection with plague:* Avoid contact with sick or dead prairie dogs or any wild animal, for that matter.* Keep a close eye on pets, and make sure they are treated for fleas and properly secured when outdoors.* Do not linger in areas populated by prairie dogs and other wild animals. Also, do not attempt to catch, feed or play with them.* Treat pants, socks, shoe tops, arms and legs with insect repellant when engaged in outdoor activities, such as hiking or jogging.* Be aware of dead animal smells or heavy fly populations indicating animal “die-offs,” which are a key sign of plague. Report such areas to the Health Department.For more information, visit www.elpasocountyhealth.org.
