(Photo courtesy of National Park Service)

The plague is often transmitted by fleas.

Health officials in Yavapai County are warning residents and visitors to the Mingus Mountain area, near Jerome, to take precautions after plague was found in a sick cat.

Officials said plague is not a major threat for humans. According to Yavapai County Community Health Services, there have been only two confirmed cases in Arizona since 2000, but they said the threat to pets is much greater. The plague is often transmitted by fleas.

Spokesman David McAtee said people can help protect their pets from the disease.

“Make sure you’ve got your flea collars on your animals and if you go for a hike, make sure you’re putting on bug spray cause that’ll keep a lot of those bugs away from you that carry plague," McAtee said.

McAtee advises residents and visitors not to touch dead animals they may see in the road and to keep pets away from them. He said while plague is generally treated quickly and completely in humans, animals can’t tell you they’re sick until it’s too late.