REDMOND, Oregon – Health officials in Oregon have confirmed the first case of bubonic plague in the state since 2015, with the infected individual believed to have contracted the disease from their pet cat, according to a news release from the Deschutes County Health Services.
The infected resident, who has remained unidentified, and all close contacts, including the pet cat, have been provided with medication to prevent the illness. Dr. Richard Fawcett, the Deschutes County health officer, assured the public that there is little risk to the community as the case was identified and treated in the early stages, with no additional cases of plague emerging during the investigation of the disease.
Symptoms of the bubonic plague can progress into the more severe and difficult to treat septicemic plague (bloodstream infection) and/or pneumonic plague (lung infection) if not diagnosed early. The last case of human plague in Oregon was reported in 2015, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
Humans typically begin to show symptoms of the plague within two to eight days of exposure, including fever, nausea, weakness, chills, muscle aches, and visibly swollen lymph nodes called buboes. Humans can be infected through bites or contact with infected fleas or animals.
In Central Oregon, officials have warned that the most common animals to carry bubonic plague are squirrels and chipmunks, and have recommended that residents and pets avoid all contact with rodents and fleas to prevent the spread of the disease.
This case serves as a reminder for residents in Oregon and elsewhere to take precautions when interacting with animals and to seek medical attention promptly if they experience any symptoms related to the bubonic plague.