NEWS

The plague has been found in Colorado. Will it come to Ohio? Here's what to know

Mariyam Muhammad
Cincinnati Enquirer

A disease that killed 50 million people in the Middle Ages has been found in Colorado. 

A person in Pueblo County, Colorado, approximately 100 miles south of Denver, has been infected with the bubonic plague, health officials said on Monday. 

Will it be 2020 all over again. Will we be stuck at home as we avoid a contagious disease? Here is what to know. 

What is the plague?

Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis), or the plague, or the Black Death (yes, a lot of names), is a bacterium prevalent worldwide in rodents and their fleas. It is carried by rodents, such as rats and prairie dogs, in the wild. 

History of plague pandemics

200 million people have been infected and killed by this bacterium across centuries, according to The National Library of Medicine. 

The first plague pandemic likely came from India, reaching Constantinople in 541–542 CE, and 18 waves of the disease spread across the Mediterranean basin into distant areas like Persia and Ireland until 750 CE.

The second pandemic, which started in October 1347 and known as the Black Death during this era, arrived in Sicily from Central Asia through Genoese ships carrying flea-laden rats. This disease, which might have originated in North Kyrgyzstan, killed one-third of the population in Europe during the 14th century.

Finally, the third pandemic, which began in southwest China in 1855, killed around 70,000 people and spread to countries like Taiwan and India, killing millions of people. 

Spread of the disease has slowed, but isolated outbreaks still occur.

How do humans catch it? 

Transmission happens when a human inhales the plague particles or by breathing in particles suspended in respiratory droplets from a person or animal within six feet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is pneumonic plague, which is transmitted person to person.

The same Y. pestis bacteria also causes bubonic plague, but it is instead transmitted through the bite of an infected flea or exposure to infected material through a break in the skin, per the CDC.

Will the plague come to Ohio?

The bubonic plague spread about 3 miles per day during the Middle Ages, according to TheNational Library of Medicine, but it’s good to keep in mind that it was a century ago. With modern tracking and healthcare, it’s likely to mitigate the chances of mass infection.

Most human cases in the U.S. have occurred in the Southwest (in northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southern Colorado) and West (California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada). The U.S. has an average of seven human plague cases per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In March, a New Mexico man died from the plague, state health officials announced. Oregon officials identified a human case of plague in February. The Oregon case likely stemmed from an infected pet cat.

What are the symptoms of the plague?

Symptoms can develop between a day and a week after exposure, according to the World Health Organization. According to the Pueblo County Public Health Department website, symptoms include: 

  • Sudden fever 
  • Chills
  • Severe headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Nausea, vomiting 
  • Swollen lymph nodes with pain called buboes (most common symptom)

Is there a vaccination for the plague?

There is no vaccination designated for the plague in the U.S., according to the CDC. However, if you contract symptoms, seek medical attention immediately and you will be treated with antibiotics. It's important that symptoms are not ignored, as the plague can kill a human rather quickly.

How to protect yourself from the plague

Pueblo County officials encourage everyone to take precautions and protect themselves and their pets from the plague. Here’s how you can look out for yourself:

  • Eliminate places where rodents can hide and breed around your home, garage, shed or recreation area
  • Remove brush, rock piles, trash and piles of lumber
  • Avoid contact with dead animals
  • Use insect repellent that contains 20%-30% DEET to prevent flea bites
  • Do not let pets sleep in bed with you
  • Regularly treat dogs and cats for fleas
  • Keep pet food in rodent-proof containers

Have cases of the plague been found recently? 

Yes, between 1,000 and 3,000 cases of plague are reported globally every year, the World Health Organization reports. Five to 15 of those are from the United States.

Eduardo Cuevas contributed to reporting.