As if the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t bad enough, now the bubonic plague has resurfaced in Colorado. Jefferson County health officials say a squirrel caught in Morrison, which is about 17 miles southwest of Denver, has tested positive for the plague. “Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, and can be contracted by humans and household animals,” a statement released by the health department reads.
Squirrel tests positive for plague in Colorado https://t.co/34LCvPoPjI pic.twitter.com/aGoYf9RaoW
— New York Post (@nypost) July 13, 2020
Health experts are warning residents to be careful around wild animals and to take pets to a veterinarian if they appear to be ill. Although the bubonic plague can be fatal, they say it can be treated with antibiotics if it’s caught early enough.
