Disease risk from insects, weeds downplayed

Local officials said Thursday that a prevalence of weeds is not contributing to an increase in fleas and ticks linked to several diseases transmitted to animals.

The situation also is not putting humans at any additional health risk, officials said.

Earlier this week, the El Paso County Public Health Department confirmed that a rabbit found dead near Yoder tested positive for tularemia — a bacterial infection also known as rabbit fever.

The rabbit was tested after a resident noticed a large number of dead rabbits in the area.

A dog that lives in the same area has also tested positive for tularemia and is being treated with antibiotics.

Experts said the best protection against tularemia is avoiding contact with wild animals. The bites of ticks, deer flies and other insects also can spread the infection.

Also this week, authorities euthanized a deer found to have the plague, another bacterial disease transmitted by infected animals or insects.

Last month, a 16-year-old Fort Collins boy died from plague symptoms.

Tom Wasinger, a code enforcement officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department, reminds property owners to trim weeds and grasses promptly as a precaution. The city requires trimming when such vegetation grows above 9 inches.

“I can understand the concerns neighbors have about fleas and ticks,” Wasinger said.

Wasinger said the city has sent 500 notices to property owners and tenants who are violating the weed ordinance.

“That’s more than we usually have,” he said. “We’re still going to go after them.”

Wasinger said around 70 percent of notice recipients eventually comply but the rest likely will be cited and fined.