First Human Plague Case in 5 Years Reported in California

Plague symptoms

Jones noted symptoms like fever, chills, weakness, abdominal pain, headache, and shock that can easily be mistaken with other diseases. In addition, in some rare cases “possibly bleeding into the skin and other organs,” the federal agency states, continuing that “skin and other tissues may turn black and die, especially on fingers, toes and the nose.”

“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County. It’s important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking and/or camping in areas where wild rodents are present. Human cases of plague are extremely rare but can be very serious,” said El Dorado County Public Health Officer Dr. Nancy Williams in a statement.

The most problematic area regarding the number of infections is the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet. Plague has also been identified in rodent populations across the West. As I’ve previously mentioned, that’s mainly because of prairie dogs, squirrels and the plague-carrying fleas that live in those areas. Moreover, those fleas can infect pets, and the bacteria travels rapidly from pets to humans.

“When you are outdoors in areas known to harbor plague, do not touch any wild rodents or rabbits. Don’t let your pets roam around. Apply flea control to pets, and repellent to yourself if you are walking or camping in the wilderness. Stay away from areas that harbor rodents, such as prairie dog towns, hay bale storage and wood piles,” Jones said. “And if you are concerned that you or your pet may have been exposed to plague, contact your physician and your veterinarian.”

“The risk relates to both the prevalence of plague where you live and the types of exposures you have to rodents and fleas,” Dr. Erica S. Shenoy, a medical director and associate chief at Massachusetts General Hospital and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, told CBS News earlier this week.

However, if you’re living in these states -Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada and New Mexico- you need to be extra careful, as those are the most problematic areas in the U.S.
According to Dr. Robyn R.M. Gershon, a professor and program director at the NYU School of Global Public Health you need to be concerned if you’re living in the states mentioned above.

“With proper precautions, you can avoid contact with possibly infected fleas,” Gershon said. “If you do get infected, there is very good treatment available with antibiotics. The only risk is that the infection will not be diagnosed promptly, which can then lead to more serious disease.”