Colorado Cat Dies from Bubonic Plague Weeks After Arizona Fatality
Warm months in Colorado often bring wildlife sightings, but this year comes with a more serious public health concern. A domestic cat from Evergreen, near Cub Creek Park, has died after testing positive for the bubonic plague. This is Jefferson County’s first confirmed animal plague case since 2023, sparking concern among veterinarians and pet owners.
Warning to Pet Owners
Health officials confirmed the disease is caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium still found in certain wildlife populations in the western United States, especially rural areas of Colorado, northern Arizona, and parts of New Mexico. According to the CDC, plague in the USA is rare, averaging about seven human cases annually, but it can still be fatal without immediate treatment.
Connection to the Arizona Case
This Colorado incident comes just weeks after an Arizona plague case claimed the life of a man in Flagstaff. He arrived at the hospital with severe symptoms and died the same day. Public health investigators noted that prairie dog die-offs in the region may have signaled plague activity in rodent populations and their flea carriers—a known transmission route for both pets and humans.
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How the Plague Spreads
Plague transmission occurs mainly through bites from infected fleas or contact with sick or dead animals. In Colorado, the bacterium is most often found in prairie dogs, squirrels, and other rodents. These reservoir hosts can pass the bacteria to fleas, which then spread them to pets or people. Experts note that plague is endemic in parts of Colorado, with higher detection rates in the southwest of the state.
How to Recognize Symptoms in People and Pets
For humans, plague symptoms often appear suddenly high fever, chills, headaches, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes are early warning signs. In pets, especially cats, symptoms can include fever, low energy, loss of appetite, and visible swelling in the lymph nodes.
Plague occurs in three forms: bubonic (lymph nodes), septicemic (bloodstream), and pneumonic (lungs). All are serious and require urgent antibiotic treatment. Health experts stress that early diagnosis is critical for survival.
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Why This Matters to Pet Owners
Jim Rada, Jefferson County Environmental Health Director, explained that local veterinarians are often the first to detect plague in pets. “They are a first line of defense in keeping pets safe from fleas that could make them sick and in treating them if they are exposed,” he said.
While a few animal plague cases in Colorado occur each summer, confirmed infections in household pets remain rare. Still, officials urge pet owners to take extra care, especially in rural or wooded areas where wildlife activity is high.
Practical Prevention Tips
Public health officials recommend several plague prevention measures for both people and pets:
- Avoid contact with wild, sick, or dead animals.
- Keep pets indoors or leashed outdoors.
- Use veterinarian-approved flea prevention.
- Watch for signs of illness in pets and seek veterinary care immediately.
- If you develop a sudden fever or swollen lymph nodes after possible exposure, seek medical attention.
Residents with concerns can contact Jefferson County Public Health at 303-232-6301 or visit their official website.
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This story is a reminder that the plague is not just history; it still exists in the USA. For pet owners, especially in plague-endemic states like Colorado, prevention is as important as treatment. Keeping pets safe from fleas and limiting unsupervised outdoor activity could mean avoiding a dangerous and potentially deadly infection.
