The first bubonic plague discovered in Oregon in 10 years came from cats.

news

by Katherine Donlevy

Oregonians have contracted the bubonic plague for the first time in nearly a decade, most likely contracting it from their domestic cats.

A “local resident” in Deschutes County, a rural area in central Oregon, appears to be the only infected person, health officials announced Wednesday.

Except for pets with symptoms.

Deschutes County Health Officer Dr. Richard Fawcett said in a statement that “all close contacts of residents and their pets have been contacted and provided medication to prevent the disease.”

The condition of the person and their cat is not yet known, but officials said the case was diagnosed and treated early and there is little risk to the community.

The bubonic plague, which famously swept Europe in the 14th century, is transmitted by squirrels, chipmunks, and other wild rodents and their fleas. If an infected rodent becomes ill and dies, the fleas can transmit the infection to other animals or humans through their bites.

Infected people experience high fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes called buboes. Symptoms appear within 2 to 8 days after exposure.

Although there is no vaccine, plague can be treated with antibiotics if caught early. If left untreated, it can be fatal.

The confirmed case is the first to hit the state since 2015, when a teenage girl contracted the disease after being bitten by a flea during a hunting trip.

Since 1995, only nine cases of plague have infected humans in Oregon, and no deaths have been reported.

Bubonic plague infections are extremely rare in the United States, with an average of five to 15 cases occurring in Western countries each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The disease usually occurs in rural to semi-rural areas where wild rodents are more common.

Officials recommend avoiding contact with wild rodents, especially sick or dead rodents, and never feeding squirrels or chipmunks. You should also keep your pet away from wild rodents to avoid infection.