NEW DELHI: Oregon in the United States reported its first human case of bubonic plague in over eight years, with health officials suggesting a likely transmission from symptomatic pet cat.
The infected resident and their ailing pet have received prompt medical attention, minimizing the risk to the community, according to the officials.
This incident marks Oregon’s first case of plague since 2015 when a teenage girl contracted the disease from a flea bite.The state has reported only nine human cases since 1995 and no fatalities, making the disease exceedingly rare.
What is Bubonic plague?
Bubonic plague, known for its historical impact on 14th-century Europe in the form of Black Deaths, is carried by wild rodents and fleas. When an infected rodent succumbs to illness, its fleas can transmit the disease to other animals or humans through bites. Symptoms, including high fever and swollen lymph nodes, can manifest within two to eight days after exposure. While fatal if untreated, early diagnosis allows for effective antibiotic treatment.
How common is the disease?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes an annual average of 5 to 15 cases in the western United States, where the disease is typically found in rural to semi-rural areas with prevalent wild rodent populations.
Bubonic plague in US
While the US sees an average of around seven human plague cases annually, the hotspot remains concentrated in the rural West, particularly in states such as northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon, and western Nevada.