A local resident of Deschutes County, Oregon was diagnosed with a rare form of the plague earlier this month. Health officials confirmed that the resident contracted the disease from their pet cat who fell ill shortly before. The cat, unfortunately did not survive, but the infected resident and all those in close contact, were given antibiotics and have made a full recovery.
The plague, a bacterium called Yersinia pestis, manifests in three separate strands: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic. Bubonic plague is characterized by fever, swollen and painful lymph nodes, and headaches or weakness. Septicemic Plague occurs when the bacterium enters the bloodstream, and typically results from bubonic plague going untreated. It is characterized by similar symptoms, but can also cause pain in the abdomen, or shock, as well as blackened fingers or toes. Pneumonic plague is the most serious form of the disease as it is the only form that can be spread from person to person from cough droplets. In this form, the disease spreads to the lungs, and adds severe pneumonia to the list of symptoms.
The plague is most commonly carried by rodents and fleas, which makes it easy for house pets to contract. This is what made the disease so easily spreadable during the early 1300s when it led to the death of nearly half of the European population. Due to the plagues’ severe impact during that time period, it can seem somewhat daunting for cases to appear today. However, the plague is not as rare as some may think, and is no longer nearly as fatal.
This is Oregon’s most recent case since another resident contracted the disease in 2015 in the same way. Colorado also reported a case in 2015, but we have seen cases as recently as 2020 in California. According to the CDC, about 7 cases of the plague are reported in the United States each year, about 80% of which are the bubonic form.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm that sunlight kills the bacterium on surfaces, but the best way to combat the disease is stopping the spread. By making homes and outdoor spaces less inviting for rodents by clearing away brush or trash, and ensuring pet food is not accessible. Pets should also be kept up to date with flea medication, in order to prevent the disease from entering the home.