Bend Ore. (KPTV) – Last week, health officials revealed that the first human case of plague in Oregon in eight years was in a resident of rural Deschutes County.
According to Deschutes County Health Services, the person was likely infected by their pet cat, which was showing symptoms.
The most common way humans get plague is through the bite of a flea that carries plague. House pets can also contract the disease if they chase rats carrying plague.
Next, through bodily fluids or tissue, such as respiratory droplets released by coughing or sneezing, pets can infect humans. Alternatively, they may bring fleas home with them, which can bite people.
Plague in dogs is much less common, but not impossible.
,All close contacts of residents and their pets have been contacted and provided with medications to prevent the disease.said Dr. Richard Fawcett, Deschutes County health officer.
Officials said there is no risk to the community because the case was identified and treated early in the disease. Communicable disease investigations have revealed no additional cases of plague.
If not diagnosed early, bubonic plague can be more serious and difficult to treat than septicemic plague (bloodstream infection) and/or pneumonic plague (lung infection).
The last case of human plague in Oregon was recorded in 2015, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
Within two to eight days of exposure, humans usually begin to exhibit symptoms of plague. Rapid onset of fever, nausea, weakness, chills, muscle pain, and markedly swollen lymph nodes known as “buboes” are among the possible symptoms.
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