(USA)
A squirrel in Colorado in United States has tested positive for the bubonic plague, the CNN has reported.
Duaglobalnews reports that the development is coming on the heels of the global fight against COVID-19 with no success insight.
The virus has continued to increase in number of cases and deaths since it broke out on December 31,2019 in Wuhan, China and has reached over 200 nations, including Nigeria with frightening statistics.
According to the report, the squirrel tested positive on July 11 in the town of Morrison, marking the first case of plague in the county this year.
Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) department announced the development.
JCPH warns the public that bubonic plague can infect both humans and animals, if proper precautions are not taken.
The disease, which was responsible for the deadliest pandemic in human history, can be transmitted from flea bites and infected animals.
While modern antibiotics can prevent complications and death, if treated quickly enough, it is still a major threat to both humans and animals.
The disease can cause painful, swollen lymph nodes. Fever, chills and coughing are also symptoms humans can experience.
On July 7, Chinese authorities confirmed a case of the bubonic plague in inner Mongolia.
Local authorities in the town of Bayannur issued a citywide warning for plague prevention shortly after it was confirmed, which will remain in place for the rest of the year.
The disease has been around for centuries and is responsible for the deadliest pandemic in human history.
An estimated 50 million people in Europe died during the Black Death pandemic of the Middle Ages.
The plague has recently made a comeback, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized it as a re-emerging disease.
There are approximately 1,000 to 2,000 cases every year, but that is likely a modest figure as there are a number of unreported cases, according to the WHO.
The United States reports up to a few dozen cases every year, according to the Centres for Disease Control.
Two people died in Colorado from the plague in 2015.
If left untreated, the bubonic plague can turn into the pneumonic plague, which can cause pneumonia after bacteria spreads to the lungs.
Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, flying squirrels, and prairie dogs amongst other rodents according to Wikipedia.
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