Coconino County health officials say they’re investigating a reported prairie dog die-off northeast of Flagstaff, and that could signal the presence of plague.
Prairie dogs are highly susceptible to plague, which is caused by the same bacteria that triggered the Black Death in the Middle Ages. When large groups of them suddenly die, it can indicate the bacteria is circulating in the environment.
Officials said the last fatal human case in Coconino County was in 2007 — but a new cycle could be starting.
Eve Walters, the county health department’s deputy director, said residents should pay attention and take precautions.
“Like anything, there are cycles, so this may be our year that we start to see a plague cycle come up. And we really just want the public to be aware of that, so that they are taking necessary precautions," she said.
Walters says plague is typically spread through flea bites and can be transmitted from wild animals to pets and then to people. She urges residents to use flea prevention on pets, and to report any sudden changes in prairie dog activity.
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