Colorado Squirrel Tests Positive

While the world has been battling one of this century’s worst pandemics, there have also been warnings and rumours of other viral and deadly diseases, not just in the air but on the news too. One of those is the bubonic plague, known best by its 14th century pandemic name, The Black Death, which killed an estimated 50 million people in Europe alone.

About a week ago on Saturday, July 11th, a squirrel tested positive for the bubonic plague in Morrison, Colorado. This marks the town’s first case according to the Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) department.

JCPH has warned that the disease can infect both humans and animals, and is transmitted via flea bites and infected animals. Its symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, chills, and coughing, the latter three of which can be experienced by humans. If left untreated, the infection can turn into pneumonia. Fortunately, there are antibiotics and modern treatments to treat the symptoms and the nodes now.

Earlier this month on July 7th, the first case in Mongolia, China was confirmed, triggering a citywide plague prevention warning that is to remain in place for the rest of the year.

The WHO has categorized the plague as a re-emerging disease that affects 1,000 to 2,000 annually amongst confirmed cases, with the unreported number likely being much different. 

Credit: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention/Getty Images