Could Be a Bad Year for Plague ; Cat Blamed for 1st Human Case

Summary

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Health officials believe a La Plata County woman infected with the plague this month got sick from an infected flea that hitched a ride on a pet cat.

Although human plague cases are rare -- there were just three statewide in 2004 -- the disease can be deadly. The state Health Department Monday urged caution, citing the La Plata County case in southwest Colorado, and said it's possible that plague could be more problematic this year as the state recovers from the drought and there is more food to sustain the rodent population.

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Extract

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Could Be a Bad Year for Plague ; Cat Blamed for 1st Human Case

The disease is transmitted by fleas after they bite infected rodents, including prairie dogs, ch...

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