Health department updates plague advisory

A Piute ground squirrel, commonly referred to as a "whistle pig," scans the horizon on the fairways of the Silver Sage Golf Course for possible predators at Mountain Home Air Force Base. The installation creates an oasis for these ground squirrels due to an abundance of food and few natural predators. (Photo by Shane M. Phipps)

The Central District Health Department office updated an advisory on Friday regarding the discovery of plague in southern Idaho after testing showed that a cat in Elmore County possibly died from the disease.

The cat lived with a family at their home approximately three miles west of Mountain Home and had contact with ground squirrels before it became ill.

In May, the health department issued an advisory after ground squirrels, commonly known as "whistle pigs," tested positive for plague in the desert area between Boise and western Elmore County. The infected cat lived outside this area of impact.

Family members and...

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