The Apache County Public Health Services District has announced that fleas from prairie dog burrows in Old Concho south of U.S. Highway 61 have tested positive for Yersinia Pestis, the bacteria that causes plague. The die off occurred earlier this month. The health district has not received any reports of people or animals being infected with plague. Plague has been a common reoccurrence in the Southwest since its introduction in the 1900s. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are only, on average, seven cases of plague in humans reported in the U.S. each year. Even though the risk of contracting plague is low, it is a good idea to take preventive measures to keep yourself and your pets safe. People and pets should avoid prairie dog burrows in an area of a recent die off. Use insect repellent if you think you could be exposed to rodent fleas during activities such as camping, hiking or working outdoors. Keep fleas off your pets by applying a flea control product to your pets. Do not allow dogs or cats that roam free in endemic areas to sleep on your bed. Reducing rodent presence in and around our homes is a good precaution as well.
