Colorado Teen Dies From Plague

[From article]
The Larimer County Health Department confirmed that a teen died from the plague earlier this month.
Taylor Gaes died on June 8, most likely from fleas on a dead rodent or other animal on the family acreage.
[. . .]
In recent decades, an average of seven human plague cases are reported each year nationwide according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most human cases in the United States are scattered in rural areas and occur predominantly in two regions:
Northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southern Colorado
California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada
Bubonic plague is the most common form of the disease in humans (about 80% of cases) Symptoms begin two to six days after the bite of an infected flea, or contact with an infected rodent or cat. Typical symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, sudden onset of fever or chills, severe headache, extreme exhaustion, and a general feeling of illness. Bubonic plague can be successfully treated when diagnosed promptly. If you have had a possible exposure to infected rodents or fleas and are experiencing these symptoms, consult a physician as soon as possible.

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2015/06/20/plague-confirmed-in-larimer-county-teens-death/

Plague Confirmed In Larimer County Teen’s Death
June 20, 2015 1:12 PM
CBS News Denver CO

* * *


Tragedy: Taylor Gaes, 16, from Fort Collins, Colorado, succumbed to the plague just four days after he started suffering from 'flu-like symptons' despite being in 'superb health.'



[From article]

A talented high school athlete has died after contracting the plague at his family's Colorado ranch.
Taylor Gaes, 16, from Fort Collins succumbed to the disease just four days after he started suffering from 'flu-like symptons' despite being in 'superb health'.
The sophomore was a top sportsman at Poudre High School, playing for the varsity baseball team as a pitcher and the football team as quarterback.
His coaches said with his 6ft 4in frame, he was destined to play college sport, but his career was cut tragically short by the freak illness. [. . .]
On average, only seven people contract the plague in the U.S. every year and the last time there was a case in Larimer County was in 1999. Only three have been logged in the last 30 years.
The youngster's family decided to release his name after hundreds of mourners turned up to their farm to show their respects.
Their tragic announcement was made in a bid to warn those who were on their land to seek medical attention.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3133111/Talented-high-school-athlete-16-dies-contracting-PLAGUE-Teenager-succumbs-freak-illness-four-days-suffering-flu-like-symptons-ranch.html

Talented high school athlete, 16, dies after contracting the PLAGUE: Colorado teenager succumbs to freak illness four days after suffering 'flu-like symptons' on his ranch
Taylor Gaes died earlier this month from a septicemic form of the disease
Was destined for a career in baseball and was also a quarterback
He was likely bitten by a flea or came into contact with a dead animal
Family released his name to warn mourners who visited their farm
Officials urged anyone on their land in last seven days to seek medical care
By WILLS ROBINSON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 23:09 EST, 20 June 2015 | UPDATED: 00:52 EST, 21 June 2015

Fleas Test Positive For Plague in Arizona

[From article]
Coconino County officials are taking precautions after finding fleas collected in Picture Canyon northeast of Flagstaff have tested positive for plague.
[. . .]
Officials are advising residents to take precautions such as using insect repellent and to avoid handling sick or dead animals.
Symptoms of plague appear within two to six days after initial exposure. They can include fever, chills, swollen lymph glands and muscle pain.

http://www.azfamily.com/story/28724768/fleas-test-positive-for-plague-near-flagstaff?autostart=true

Fleas test positive for plague near Flagstaff
Posted: Apr 05, 2015 2:13 PM EDT

Bubonic Plague: Similar to the Black Death That Swept Medieval Europe -- kills 47 in Madagascar

Bubonic Plague The Black Death or bubonic plague -- officially known as Yersina pestis -- killed a third of Europe's population in the 14th century, and it still exists in some parts of the world today. It has a long history as a bioweapon: accounts of the Mongol siege of the Crimean city of Caffa in 1347 say the invaders catapulted the corpses of infected people over the walls. And it isn't just a medieval phenomenon; the last major outbreak in the United States was in 1900 in San Francisco and involved 121 people of which 113 died; cases have appeared sporadically since. The plague is transmitted by fleas, which incubate the bacterium in their gullets. The multiplying Yersina block blood from getting to the fleas' stomachs, and the starving fleas start to feed more aggressively and try to clear the blockage by regurgitating the bacteria. That transmits the disease to hosts, including humans. Symptoms appear in two to six days. The infection causes the lymph nodes to swell (the "buboes"), but sometimes the bacteria invades the bloodstream directly and causes flu-like symptoms, without the swollen lymph nodes. In either case, mortality rates can be 40 to 60 percent if untreated. Infection of the lungs is the most serious form. The patient will cough up bloody sputum and droplets that help spread the disease person-to-person, and unless treated quickly mortality can approach 100 percent. The Black Death is treatable with antibiotics such as streptomycin now, but a resistant strain could be a serious public health problem.

Centers for Disease Control

[From article]
Madagascar said Monday it was trying to contain an outbreak of plague -- similar to the Black Death that swept medieval Europe -- that has killed 47 people and is spreading to the capital Antananarivo.
Bubonic Plague: Still Here, Still Killing People
"The plague" has been taking lives in the most gruesome of ways for thousands of years. And guess what: It's still here.
The health ministry said there had been 138 suspected cases since the beginning of the year and warned that the death toll was likely to rise in coming months.
Two people have been infected in Antananarivo, one of them dying, and health workers have mounted a pest control campaign through slum areas around the city, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
Plague is spread by fleas and mostly affects rats, but humans can also contract the disease if they are bitten by a disease-carrying flea.
The bubonic form prompts swelling of the lymph node, but can be treated with antibiotics. The pneumonic version, affecting the lungs, can be spread from person to person through coughing and can kill within 24 hours.
Resistant fleas
The situation in Madagascar is all the more worrying because of a high level of resistance to insecticides targeting fleas, the U.N. health agency said.
[. . .]
The Black Death, otherwise known as the bubonic plague, is estimated to have killed some 25 million people across Europe in the Middle Ages.

http://news.discovery.com/human/health/bubonic-plague-spreads-in-madagascar-141125.htm

Bubonic Plague Spreads in Madagascar
NOV 25, 2014 11:27 AM ET // BY AFP

Deadly Rare Form Of Plague Found In Denver

[From article]

A Colorado man is infected with the rarest and most fatal form of plague, an airborne version that can be spread through coughing and sneezing.
[. . .]
“He’s on treatment long enough to not be transmissible,” House said in a telephone interview. He may have contracted the illness from his dog, she said, which died suddenly and has also been found to carry the disease.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-11/deadliest-rarest-form-of-plague-contracted-near-denver.html

Deadliest, Rarest Form of Plague Contracted Near Denver
By Sonali Basak and Jennifer Oldham

Jul 12, 2014 12:00 AM ET

Researcher Dies From Bacteria


http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7022822

Bacteria linked to university scientist's death
ABC News Chicago
Sunday, September 20, 2009 10:48 AM