A Colorado town is on alert after a domestic cat tested positive for the plague and died, Jefferson County Public Health officials have said. The cat lived in Evergreen, about 30 miles west of Denver, marking the first confirmed animal case in the county since 2023.
The plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is extremely rare in the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting an average of seven human cases annually, mostly in rural areas of the western states. It spreads through flea bites or direct contact with infected animals, and while life-threatening without treatment, it can be cured with antibiotics if caught early.
Last month, an Arizona man died from the plague after suffering severe symptoms and being rushed to hospital, where he passed away the same day. An autopsy later confirmed the presence of the bacterium.
Symptoms in humans include sudden high fever, chills, headaches, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes. In pets, signs are fever, low energy, loss of appetite, and swollen glands. Jim Rada, Jefferson County Environmental Health Director, said: “It’s not uncommon to see a few animal cases of plague in the warmer months in Colorado… In many ways, they are a first line of defence both in helping keep our pets safe from fleas that could make our pets sick and in treating them if they are exposed to plague.”
Health officials have advised measures to reduce risk, such as avoiding contact with rodents, using flea control products on pets, and not allowing pets to roam in areas where plague is known to occur.
