Hospital Says Colorado Girl With Plague Is Recovering

DENVER (AP) - Officials say a 7-year-old Colorado girl diagnosed with bubonic plague has been moved out of intensive care and is recovering.

Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children said Tuesday 7-year-old Sierra Jane Downing of Pagosa Springs is in good condition.

She was airlifted to the Denver hospital on Aug. 25. Officials believe she contracted the plague during a family outing at a campground northwest of Pagosa Springs.

It's the first confirmed case of the plague in humans in Colorado since 2006. The disease can spread from rodents to humans by bites from infected fleas or by handling infected animals.

Federal health officials say an average of seven cases of bubonic plague are reported in the United States each year.

Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children is part of Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center.

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