In Oregon, a unique instance of bubonic plague has been documented. This disease, responsible for widespread devastation in Europe during the 14th Century under the infamous label of the Black Death, claimed the lives of tens of millions in a series of outbreaks. The person was infected by their pet cat, an official said. The disease can be spread by flea bites, handling infected animals or through infection with the bacteria Yersinia pestis. It also can be transmitted by breathing in infectious droplets from an infected person who is coughing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 496 cases of plague have been documented since 1970, with most occurring in the West and Southwest. It was first reported in Colorado in 1941 and has appeared in the state several times since then, most recently in 2015. The disease is still around but is far less common than it was in medieval times when it caused a series of devastating outbreaks in Europe. In fact, modern treatment and public health efforts have made it very rare in the United States.
There are two types of plague – pneumonic and bubonic – which are caused by different forms of the Yersinia pestis bacterium. The pneumonic form causes fever, chills and weakness in addition to one or more swollen and painful lymph nodes (called buboes) near the site of an infected flea bite. The bubonic form is more deadly, with symptoms including swelling of the skin and extreme fatigue in addition to a fever, chills, a sore throat and the development of one or more large, hard and tender bumps that may look like a bullet hole or a scab.
Most cases of plague in the United States are found in areas where people live close to wildlife that could carry the germs. This includes cities that are overcrowded and lack systems to remove trash, and rural communities where wild carnivores, such as raccoons and foxes, can be found.
Plague is a serious illness but can be treated with antibiotics, especially if it is started as soon as possible after exposure. The bacteria that cause the disease can survive only for about an hour outside of a person’s body, so they are easily destroyed by contact with water and air that is cold, dry and clean. Doctors usually give a course of antibiotics through the veins (IV) or as pills to take.
To reduce your risk of getting the disease, avoid flea bites and stay away from wild animals, particularly wild rodents and birds. Don’t touch or handle any swollen, sick or dead animals and wear gloves if you must clear brush, woodpiles, trash or other places where wild animals make their home. Be sure to get your pets vaccinated for plague and keep them on a leash or in the house at all times. Avoid touching or feeding wild animals and wear a mask when going to crowded places, particularly if you are coughing or sneezing. If you have a pet, wash it regularly with a diluted solution of bleach and water to prevent fleas from shedding the bacteria.
