Bern. Co. girl recovering from plague

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A 16-month-old Bernalillo County girl is recovering from plague, the county's first human case this year and the state's fifth, according to the Albuquerque Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Disease Division.

The city said the girl was likely exposed to the plague in the East Mountains, and investigators are gathering more information on how she was exposed.

Officials also believe the girl's great-grandfather was also infected with plague, but they're still awaiting final test results.

Plague, a bacterial disease, is found in rodents in the wild, and can be transmitted to humans through fleas.

Symptoms usually appear between two and seven days after exposure, according to the city, and can include fever, chills and painful swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin. Some patients may also experience headaches, vomiting or diarrhea.

Infections, if diagnosed early enough, can usually be successfully treated with antibiotics.

Family pets are also prone to the plague and could carry infected fleas home to their owners. Dogs may not show symptoms, the city said, but cats may develop swollen lymph nodes in the neck, become lethargic, suffer a fever or lose their appetite.

Officials suggest that pet owners use flea control on their pets, keep them away from dead rodents or rodent burrows and prevent them from roaming or hunting. They should also take sick pets to a veterinarian.

People should also avoid sick or dead rodents, keep their distance from wildlife and prevent rodents from living near their homes by removing trash and weeds and getting wood piles off the ground.

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Also on the Web:

Albuquerque Plague Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Plague Information