A case of bubonic plague has been reported in rural Oregon, according to health officials. The infected individual was promptly treated, and officials believe there is little risk of the disease spreading to the wider community. The patient likely contracted the plague from a sick pet cat.
Bubonic plague is caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria and is typically transmitted through flea bites. It can also be spread through direct contact with infected tissues or respiratory droplets from animals or humans with pneumonic plague. Symptoms include fever, headache, weakness, and painful, swollen lymph nodes.
In the United States, an average of seven human plague cases are reported each year, with about 80 per cent being the bubonic form. Most cases occur in rural western and south-western states. Worldwide, most recent human cases have been in rural Africa, particularly Madagascar and the Congo.
All forms of plague are treatable with common antibiotics, and early treatment significantly improves the chances of a full recovery. To reduce risk, officials recommend making homes less inviting to rodents, using insect repellent with Deet, and applying flea-control products to pets.
