It’s been a bad couple of months for humans. Ebola is raging in Africa and has made its way to the United States, and Enterovirus D-68 has sickened children across the country, causing some deaths. Now comes word of the plague being found in fleas in Arizona.
“Fleas collected near Flagstaff have tested positive for the plague, according to officials with the Coconino County Public Health Services District,” reports ABC 15 in Flagstaff.
The plague is not uncommon to the area, but it is transferable to humans through bites from infected animals, including fleas.
Symptoms generally manifest themselves within two to six days after exposure and include “fever, chills, headache, weakness, muscle pain and swollen lymph glands in the groin, armpits or limbs.”
To limit possible exposure, residents of the southwest are advised:
Do not handle sick or dead animals.
Prevent pets from roaming loose. Pets can pick up the infected fleas of wild animals and then pass fleas on to their owners. Cats with plague can also pass the disease onto humans directly through respiratory droplets.
Note: Be aware, cats are highly susceptible to this disease.
De-flea pets routinely.
Avoid exposure to rodent burrows and fleas.
Use insect repellents when visiting or working in areas where plague might be active or rodents might be present.
Wear rubber gloves and other protection when cleaning and skinning wild animals.
Do not camp next to rodent burrows and avoid sleeping directly on the ground.
If feeling ill, contact doctor right away.
The plague isn’t as deadly as it was throughout history, as the human immune system and medicine have made major advances, but it can still kill. With the Ebola outbreak and Enterovirus D-68 worrying people from coast to coast, this is yet another danger the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will need to monitor.