Health authorities in Deschutes County, Oregon, have confirmed an unusual case of human plague in a local resident, which is the first recorded case in the state since 2015.
Officials have indicated that it is probable that the person acquired the disease from their pet cat, which showed signs of the illness.
According to a press release by Dr. Richard Fawcett, the Health Officer of Deschutes County, all individuals who had close contact with the resident and their pet have been informed and given medication to prevent any potential illness.
Dr. Richard Fawcett, the Health Officer of Deschutes County, stated in a press release on Wednesday that all close contacts of the resident and their pet have been notified and provided with medication to prevent illness.
During their investigation, authorities in the predominantly rural county of central Oregon have not identified any additional cases of plague.
Thankfully, the case was detected and treated during the early stages of the disease, posing minimal risk to the community, as stated in the release.
Despite the concerning nature of the reports on the plague and the severity of the disease, experts assure that there is little reason for most people to be worried.
Here’s some important information you should know:
Plague Transmission to Humans
According to the CDC, individuals typically contract the plague following a bite from an infected flea or through direct contact with an infected animal.
A wide range of animals, such as squirrels, mice, rats, prairie dogs, chipmunks, voles, as well as rabbits, can be affected by the plague.
The CDC highlights that wild carnivores can also become infected by consuming other infected animals.
Cats and dogs can transmit the plague to humans as well.
Cats, in particular, are highly prone to illness and have been associated with numerous cases of human plague in the United States through respiratory droplets in recent decades.
Signs and Symptoms of Plague
The presentation of symptoms can differ based on the specific type of plague that a person has.
For bubonic plague, a primary symptom is the occurrence of painful and swollen lymph nodes in the groin or armpits, known as buboes.
Additional common symptoms encompass fever, weakness, coughing, and chills.
The majority of cases observed in the US are of this variety.
Septicemic plague arises when the bacteria infiltrates the bloodstream.
Affected patients may experience fever, chills, profound weakness, abdominal pain, shock, and potentially internal bleeding.
Skin and other tissues, particularly those of the fingers, toes, and nose, may exhibit discoloration and necrosis.
According to the CDC, an infection may initially manifest as septicemic plague or it may develop subsequent to untreated bubonic plague.
Pneumonic plague can arise from untreated bubonic or septicemic plague when the infection spreads to the lungs.
Individuals with this type of plague may present symptoms such as fever, headache, weakness, pneumonia, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, and occasionally bloody or watery mucus.
Pneumonia may lead to respiratory failure and shock. Considered the most severe form of the disease, pneumonic plague carries a high fatality rate.