Prairie Dog Plague Causes Camping Ban At Phish Shows

COMMERCE CITY, CO — Phish concert-goers will no longer be able to pitch tents outside Dick's Sporting Goods Park after plague-infested fleas were found in the fields surrounding the stadium. The Phish concerts will be held over the Labor Day weekend at the Commerce City venue.

Between 2,000 and 3,000 people were expected to camp over the weekend. On its website, the band notified fans of the camping ban Tuesday.

A plague has hit prairie dog colonies at the neighboring Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, health officials said. Testing has confirmed that prairie dogs in the region have the sylvatic plague, which is known as the bubonic, pneumonic or septicemic plague when the disease infects people.

(Stay up-to-date with Metro Denver news with Patch! There are many ways for you to connect and stay in touch: Free Newsletters and Email Alerts | Facebook)

The City and County of Denver closed First Creek at DEN open space earlier this month after testing confirmed the plague.

Plague, a non-native disease in North America, has been found in Colorado for many years, and is present in many parts of the western United States. The infectious disease is caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis, that can be transmitted to humans by rodents and their fleas.

Denver officials are offering the following tips for preventing the spread of the disease:

• Stay out of areas that prairie dogs inhabit
• Do not feed or play with prairie dogs
• Do not touch sick or dead animals
• Avoid fleas: Protect pets with flea powder, and keep pets on a leash
• Do not allow pets to be free roaming in areas with wildlife confirmed with plague. Animals that roam freely are more likely to come in contact with plague infected animals or fleas and could bring them into homes. If your pet becomes sick, seek care from a veterinarian as soon as possible. Do not allow dogs or cats that roam free in endemic areas to sleep on your bed.
• Use repellent if you think you could be exposed to rodent fleas during activities such as walking, camping, hiking, or working outdoors. Products containing DEET can be applied to the skin as well as clothing and products containing permethrin can be applied to clothing (always follow instructions on the label).
• See a physician if you become ill within one week of your visit to the area. Plague is a treatable illness.

For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/plague or call the Department of Public Health & Environment at (720) 865-5484.