Bubonic Plague Outbreak Hits Southern Colorado

Infected Fleas Are Spreading The Plague Through Prairie Dog Colonies

August 7, 2003
by News 13 Team

Residents in southern El Paso county are being warned to take immediate precautions as an outbreak of bubonic plague is spreading through prairie dog colonies.

The plague has been detected in various parts of the county for years now, but this outbreak has the el paso county health department worried and they're warning people to protect their pets. Dr. Tom Wood of the El Paso county health department says, "The thing you worry about with dogs is he brings in a sick or dying prairie dog and, you know, and then the fleas are, you know, the owner is exposed to the fleas. The thing we worry about with cats is they actually contract the infection and transmit it to people."

Health officials say infected fleas spread the disease that results in flu-like symptoms, and that if you have aches and a fever, see your doctor right away.

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