Colorado health officials have confirmed a case of plague inn a cat in Grand County. Officials say the cat has been treated with antibiotics and recovering. There has been no reported human transmission.
Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents and is generally transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas. It can also be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, wildlife and pets.
Plague is a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The bacterium lives in several rodent species. When fleas feed on infected animals, the fleas become infected and spread the bacterium when they bite other animals and humans. When infected animals die, fleas will seek live animals, including humans, to feed on.
Plague can also be transmitted when someone is exposed to tissue or body fluids of an infected animal. It also can be spread by droplets when an animal or person who has plague pneumonia coughs.
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