2020 has been one doozy of a year, hasn’t it? Between COVID, killer hornets, and division up and down the board, there has hardly been anything good to say about the last 7 months. Do you want to know the cherry on top of an already cringe-worthy year? A squirrel in Colorado just tested positive for bubonic plague. (Yes, you read that right.)

Located less than 30 minutes from Denver is the small suburb of Morrison, which recently reported an area squirrel testing positive for the bubonic plague. 
Joe Tempel/Wikimedia Commons
"On Saturday, July 11, 2020, a squirrel found in the Town of Morrison tested positive for bubonic plague," begins a press release from Jefferson County, adding that this is the first case the area has seen this year.
Flickr/Malingering
Caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, the bubonic plague was first recorded in the Sassanian Empire (circa 500 AD, pictured) and can affect both humans and animals alike. 
Pierart dou Tielt/Wikimedia Commons

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How does one contract the disease (which causes swelling of lymph nodes, chills, high fever, headache, and extreme pain)? The bubonic plague can be spread in several different ways, including bites from infected fleas, cough from infected animals, or direct contact with someone else who carries the disease. 
Flickr/Tim Evanson
Is this a new phenomenon in Colorado (or anywhere else)? Surprisingly, no; In fact, Jefferson County reports that the Centennial State has experienced at least one case of the bubonic plague (which is now easy to treat with early intervention) per year since 2017.
Flickr/duncan c
To protect yourself and your pets from the plague, Jefferson County Public Health recommends that you do not feed wild animals; eliminate all sources of food, shelter, and access for animals around your home; and to avoid contact with any dead animals you may encounter. 
Flickr/Ken Schwarz

Now that you know all about the bubonic plague in Colorado, do you need to read something a bit more uplifting? Then you will want to check out These 15 Pictures Prove That Coloradans Have The Best Sense Of Humor.

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