Health authorities began knocking on hundreds of doors in a westside neighborhood Thursday to warn residents about plague.

The response came after a dead tree squirrel recently discovered on a resident’s property tested positive for the disease on Wednesday. Plague is a bacterial disease found among rodents that is transmitted by infected fleas to pets and humans.

The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment is canvassing the Pleasant Valley neighborhood east of Garden of the Gods with pamphlets about the disease and a notice that a positive test was confirmed in the area.

Lee Griffen, program director for animal-to-human diseases, said that there is no cause for alarm, but that the number of residents living in the area called for an urgent response.

The health department’s advice to people in the area:

- Keep dogs on a leash and don’t allow them to chase wild animals.

- Don’t feed or handle squirrels or other rodents.

- Keep cats indoors. Cats are more likely to be infected with the disease than dogs.

- Clear property of trash, woodpiles and other areas where rodents could live or hide.

The county also plans to treat area squirrels for fleas, Griffen said.

El Paso County’s last human case of plague was in 1991. Plague is treatable with antibiotics in the early stages, but can be lifethreatening when untreated.

The last time a local tree squirrel tested positive for plague was in 2004, Griffen said. Plague usually appears in cycles every few years, he said.

Plague is endemic in the Garden of the Gods area, he said, which is where the squirrel likely was infected. Rock squirrels in Garden of the Gods are primary carriers but can transmit the disease to tree squirrels.

Symptoms of plague include high fever, chills, headache, extreme fatigue and tender or swollen lymph glands. People experiencing those symptoms should consult a doctor, the Health Department advised.

People who find dead squirrels in the area should call the health department, 575-8636.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0198 or bnewsome@gazette.com