A child in southern Idaho’s Elmore County is recovering from the bacterial disease of plague, the first confirmed human case of plague identified in the state since 1992. Epidemiologists with the Central District Health Department said today (June 12, 2018) it is not known whether the child was exposed to plague in Idaho or during a recent trip to Oregon. Plague has historically been found in wildlife in both states.

The case serves as a reminder to recreationists in southern Idaho that plague is dangerous to people and pets, but with proper awareness, precautions, and prompt treatment when needed, plague should not discourage you from enjoying the Idaho outdoors. Plague was identified in 2015 and 2016 in ground squirrels found in the desert south of Interstate 84 in Ada County. Since those discoveries, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, public health districts and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare have been working to raise awareness of plague in the area each year.

Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents that is transmitted through the bites of infected fleas and can cause serious illness to people and pets if not treated quickly. It also can be transmitted to people by direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, rabbits and pets. Common rodents that can become infected include ground squirrels, rats, voles and mice. Tree squirrels in Idaho are not known to carry plague.

People can greatly reduce their risk of becoming infected with plague by taking simple precautions, including avoiding contact with wild rodents, their fleas,  and rodent carcasses. Health officials recommend:

• Do not feed rodents in picnic or campground areas and never handle sick or dead rodents.
• Keep your pets from roaming and hunting ground squirrels or other rodents in affected desert areas.
• Talk to your veterinarian about using an appropriate flea control product on pets as not all products are safe for cats, dogs or children.
• Sick pets should be examined promptly by a veterinarian, especially if they may have had contact with sick or dead rodents in the desert areas south and east of Boise.
• See your doctor if you have any unexplained illness involving a sudden and severe fever after being in a plague-endemic area.
• Clean up areas near your home where rodents can live, such as woodpiles, and put hay, wood, and compost piles as far as away as possible.
• Don’t leave pet food and water where rodents or other wild animals can access them.

Common symptoms of plague in humans include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, and weakness. In most cases, there is a painful swelling of the lymph node in the groin, armpit or neck areas. In some cases, rapidly developing signs of pneumonia (shortness of breath, chest pain, cough) can occur. Plague symptoms in cats and dogs are fever, lethargy and loss of appetite, with possible swelling in the lymph node under the jaw. Cats with plague pneumonia can give it to people. In 2016, plague was identified in six Idaho cats. With prompt diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment, fatal infections in people and pets can be limited. Clinicians who suspect plague should promptly report it to their local public health district.

Since 1940, only five human cases of plague have been reported in Idaho. Prior to this case, the last two cases reported in Idaho occurred in 1991 and 1992, with both patients fully recovering.

Media note: For information on the Elmore County case, please contact Central District Health Public Information Officer Christine Myron at 208-327-8639 or cmyron@cdhd@idaho.gov.

IDHW Media Contact:

Public Information Officer Chris Smith

208-334-0668

For more plague public health information:

• DHW Blog: Spring is plague awareness season: https://dhwblog.com/2018/03/06/spring-is-plague-awareness-season-in-s-idaho-protect-yourself-your-pets/
• General overview of plague from the Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/plague
• FAQs: www.cdc.gov/plague/faq/index.html
• Protect Yourself From Plague fact sheet