Jul 19, 2006 5:58 pm US/Mountain
Human Plague Case Reported In Southwest Colorado
DURANGO, Colo. (AP) ―
The first human case of plague in Colorado this year was confirmed in a La Plata County man, the San Juan Basin Health Department said.
The man, whose name was not released, was treated at a hospital and is recovering, said Lynn Westberg, director of the department, which includes La Plata and Archuleta counties in southwestern Colorado.
"This year particularly, there seems to be a lot of plague, and it is widespread throughout the county and region," Westberg said.
The San Juan health department earlier reported seven animals, including squirrels, household cats and prairie dogs, had tested positive for plague.
Typical human symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, sudden fever or chills, severe headache, extreme exhaustion and general feeling of illness. Plague can be treated when diagnosed promptly.
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