Plague-Carrying Fleas Found In Two Arizona Counties

Plague-carrying fleas have been discovered in Navajo and Coconino Counties, prompting warnings that people need to keep their pets leashed and away from dead animals. The fleas were detected in the past couple of weeks by Center for Pathogen and Microborne Institute at Northern Arizona University.

While there have been no reports of people becoming infected, health officials are warning residents to be extra cautious because both cats and dogs can carry the fleas.

The disease can be transmitted to people and other animals by a bite of an infected flea or by direct contact with an infected animal.

People are encouraged to stay away from rodent burrows and they are reminded that under state law, dogs must be leashed. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

In Coconino County, the fleas were collected in the Doney Park area north of Flagstaff and in the Red Lake area about five miles northeast of Williams.

Officials say that while an abundance of active prairie dogs doesn’t indicate that the plague is present, people need to keep an eye out for a sudden die-off of prairie dogs and rodents.

If you notice a sudden die-off of rodents or rabbits are urged to contact the county health department's environmental services unit at 928-679-8750.

Symptoms of plague in people generally appear within two to six days following exposure and include fever, chills, headache, weakness, muscle pain, and swollen lymph glands (called "buboes") in the groin, armpits or limbs.

Health officials say that people living, working, camping or visiting in areas where plague and/or rodents are known to be present are urged to take the following precautions to reduce their risk of exposure:

• 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 human owners. This is one of the common ways for humans to contract plague. Cats with plague can also pass the disease on to humans directly thorough respiratory droplets.
• De-flea pets routinely. Contact your veterinarian for specific recommendations.
• Avoid rodent burrows and fleas.
• Use insect repellents when visiting or working in areas where plague might be active or rodents might be present (campers, hikers, woodcutters and hunters).
• 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.
• Be aware that cats are highly susceptible to this disease and while they can get sick from a variety of illnesses, a sick cat (especially one allowed to run at large outside) should receive care by a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment to reduce human exposure to plague.
• In case of illness see your physician immediately as treatment with antibiotics is very effective.

More information on the plague can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/plague/.

File photo of a prairie dog from Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images