Colorado health officials confirmed a resident of the state has contracted a rare case of human plague. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News
Colorado health officials on Tuesday confirmed a case of human plague in that state.
The infection — which occurred in Pueblo County, in the southern part of the state — was first reported Friday based on preliminary test results, while the source of the infection is still being tracked down.
“Plague can be treated successfully with antibiotics, but an infected person must be treated promptly to avoid serious complications or death,” Alicia Solis, program manager of the Office of Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness at the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment, said in a news release announcing the case.
“We advise all individuals to protect themselves and their pets from plague,” she added.
This is not the first case of plague that Colorado has seen: The state had 67 reported cases between 1970 and 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the United States as a whole, an average of seven human plague cases are reported each year.
Worldwide, 3,248 human plague cases were reported between 2010 and 2015, the World Health Organization says.
Unfortunately, “a plague vaccine is no longer available in the United States,” the CDC notes. “New plague vaccines are in development, but are not expected to be commercially available in the immediate future.”
Caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, the plague is an infectious disease typically spread by fleas. Once known as “The Black Death,” which killed millions in Europe during the Middle Ages, the plague circulates naturally among wild rodents and rarely infects humans today.
Anyone who develops symptoms of plague should see their doctor immediately, the CDC says. Typical symptoms include sudden fever and chills, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and, commonly, swollen lymph nodes with pain.
What can people do to avoid infection?
One way is to eliminate places where wild rodents can exist close to humans such as brush, rock piles, trash and piles of lumber around homes, garages, sheds and recreation areas, according to Colorado health officials.
Taking precautions around pets can also reduce risk of transmission. Health officials suggest treating dogs and cats for fleas, keeping pet food in rodent-proof containers and not letting pets roam in rodent areas or sleep in bed with you.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the plague.
Copyright © 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
The pilot of a small plane that crashed Sunday in Eagle County walked away with minor injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators believe the plane’s engine failed midflight, causing it to clip a tree and crash near Dotsero, in the 1200 block of Sweetwater Road, according to a news release from the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office.
Dotsero is roughly 18 miles northeast of Glenwood Springs and 43 miles west of Vail.
Vail Public Safety Communications was notified about the incident by a Garmin alert shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday, the release stated. Shortly after, someone called to report the plane crash.
Eagle County deputies responded to the crash site and found a 48-year-old man with a minor cut. He was the plane’s pilot, sheriff’s officials said.
The nearby plane had crashed onto its nose with its tail in the air, photos from the sheriff’s office show.
No one else was on board the plane at the time of the crash, and no other injuries were reported, according to the sheriff’s office.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — There was no elaborate celebration from Bennett Zmolek.
In fact, he didn’t even see it go in.
“I saw Resch coming at me,” Zmolek said of teammate Cole Reschny. “I was like, I guess it went in.”
Zmolek scored his first goal in nearly four years to help UND beat Colorado College 5-2 on Saturday night in Ed Robson Arena.
His last goal was Jan. 20, 2022, when he was a freshman at Minnesota State against St. Thomas. That was 1,450 days and three hip surgeries ago.
With the game tied 1-1 in the second period, Zmolek spotted open ice on the right side of the rink and pinched from his defensive spot. Reschny made a cross-ice pass and Zmolek one-timed it five-hole on Tiger goalie Kaidan Mbereko.
“I’d say huge props to Resch,” Zmolek said. “He set it all up. I just had to tap it in.”
Teammate Dylan James grabbed the puck for Zmolek to keep.
“So proud of him,” James said. “Obviously, he’s been through a lot these past couple years. He’s played minimal games the last two years and he was voted captain. That shows what kind of guy he is. He’s the rock of our team. It’s very special seeing him get his first in a UND jersey.”
Zmolek’s teammates celebrated the goal more than he did.
“We were all screaming on the bench,” forward Anthony Menghini said. “He’s such a great leader, such a great captain, does all the right things. For him to put it in the net was huge.”
Daryl Batt / Colorado College athletics
UND also received goals from James, Tyler Young, Abram Wiebe and Reschny. James and Reschny tallied assists and had two-point nights, while Menghini notched two assists.
UND (17-5) took four points from the weekend after losing Friday’s series opener 3-2 in overtime.
The Fighting Hawks finally got to Tiger goalie Kaidan Mbereko, who had won six in a row against UND. Mbereko gave up four goals on 24 shots before leaving with an apparent injury in the third period.
“I don’t believe our record is great against CC, but this team is different,” James said. “It feels great to bounce back from yesterday and get a win.”
The Fighting Hawks sit atop the National Collegiate Hockey Conference standings, five points ahead of Denver. The Pioneers come to Ralph Engelstad Arena next weekend.
“Their coach. . . I have a lot of respect for Kris Mayotte,” UND coach Dane Jackson said. “He kind of mentioned that he really thought our North Dakota mentality was evident this weekend. That was pretty nice for him to say.”
Jan Špunar, starting on consecutive nights for the first time since Dec. 5-6 at St. Cloud State, stopped 19 of 21. He allowed a pair of goals to defenseman Mats Lindgren, a midseason pickup from the ECHL.
But the night belonged to Zmolek.
After the game, Zmolek was asked what he remembered about his last goal.
“St. Thomas, right?” he said. “Their old barn. Low blocker.”
That goal came at the end of the 2021-22 season. Zmolek missed nearly the entire 2022-23 season due to hip surgery.
He transferred to UND in the summer of 2023, and helped anchor UND’s defensive corps to a Penrose Cup in 2023-24. He missed all but one game last year with another hip surgery.
“I’m so happy for him,” Jackson said. “It was a great read, a great pass and he got a lot of wood on it. It was really a high-skill play. The guys are so happy for him. He’s such a leader for us in so many ways. Obviously, most of the time it’s with his defensive play and penalty killing and everything else. But to see him bring out the offense in a big moment, I was just so happy for him. He’s a warrior.”
Notes: UND wore its black jerseys. It is 4-1 in the black jerseys this season. Colorado College wore gold. . . UND played without Josh Zakreski (lower body) and Cody Croal (illness). The Fighting Hawks moved Jayden Jubenvill into the lineup for Sam Laurila. . . Colorado College played without forward Owen Beckner (upper), forward Brandon Lisowsky (lower), defenseman Max Burkholder (lower) and defenseman Colton Roberts (upper).
Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.
A Colorado woman and her 6-year-old son were found dead in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah, this week in what appears to be a murder-suicide, law enforcement officials said.
Park rangers responded to a suspicious vehicle parked in a no-camping area near Shafer Trail in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, the San Juan County, Utah, Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Park rangers found an unresponsive 6-year-old boy in the vehicle and started life-saving measures, but the boy was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital.
The woman was found dead outside of the vehicle.
Both were reported missing by family in Colorado on Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said.
Sheriff Lehi Lacy on Saturday confirmed to The Denver Post that the woman and her son were also from Colorado.
The sheriff’s office is not identifying the woman or boy out of respect and will release the names once the agency gets permission from the family, Lacy said.
The investigation is ongoing, but “based on all evidence so far, this case is being investigated as a homicide and suicide,” sheriff’s officials said.
Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.
2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
Power bank feature creep is out of control
Anti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
MERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
Defensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
Pat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
Service door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
Viral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
