Health Officials in Oregon Believe Rare Case of Bubonic Plague Likely Came From a Pet Cat
Deschutes County in Central Oregon is seeing something we tend to think of as being part of the history books — human bubonic plague. Officials say it's the first case of bubonic plague they've seen in the last eight years. And believe the disease was likely caused by a domestic house cat.
The infected person has yet to be identified, but was confirmed to have the illness by Deschutes County Health Services last week.
A February 7 press release from the organization states that the resident was likely "infected by their symptomatic pet cat," ABC News reports.
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The case is the first of its kind since 2015, the organization stated, and plague is "rare" in the state. Thankfully, Deschutes County Health officials was identified early and the person was treated by doctors "in the earlier stages of the disease, posing little risk to the community," USA TODAY reports.
Human being showing symptoms of bubonic plague "two to eight days after exposure to an infected animal or flea," the organization noted. Symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, nausea, weakness, chills, muscle aches and visibly swollen lymph nodes.
If bubonic plague is left untreated it can have disastrous results. Plauge can lead to an infection in the bloodstream and a lung infection, Deschutes County Health Services officials warned. The infections are hard to treat and can sometimes lead to death.
Luckily, the officials said that "No additional cases of plague have emerged during the communicable disease investigation," ABC News reports. When caught early, the disease is treatable with antibiotics. A typical course of treatment can last from seven to 14 days.
The condition is spread to both humans and animals through a bite from an infected flea or through contact with a sick animals, USA TODAY states. The most common animals to carry the illness are squirrels and chipmunks, as well as mice and other rodents. Experts suggest to avoid all contact with rodents and fleas, keep your pets on their leash and use flea products, and try to discourage your cats from catching rodents in your home. If your cat becomes sick after catching a rodent, call your veterinarian immediately.
You should refrain from camping, sleeping, or resting near animal burrows or in any area where dead rodents are observed. And while they might look cute, feeding chipmunks or squirrels can put you at risk.
The bubonic plague first dated back to the middle ages when it killed millions across Europe, ABC News reports. In recent years, individual cases have popped up here in the United States. Including in August, 2020 when a California resident tested positive for plague. Officials believe they caught the illness from an infected flea while out walking their dog.
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