Last week , Oregon health officials harbinger that a house physician had been diagnosed withbubonic pestilence , the state ’s first human case since 2015 . They believe the person was probably infect by their favourite cat , who also developed symptom .
Plague , because of the bacteriumYersinia pest , is rare in the US , with an average of seven human cases reported each year in late X , according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC ) . In Oregon , there have been just 19 cases since 1970 , with the last reported over eight yr ago .
The new case range up in Deschutes County , and , per astatementfrom local wellness services , was name and treated early , “ get little risk to the community ” . No extra character have emerged during their investigating , they add .
If leave untreated , the infection can develop into more severe and difficult - to - treat forms : a bloodstream contagion ( septicemic plague ) or lung infection ( pulmonic pest ) .
luckily , the patient " react very well to antibiotic treatment , " Dr Richard Fawcett , Deschutes County Health Officer , toldNBC News , and health officials have taken steps to prevent the spread head of disease . " All close contacts of the resident and their ducky have been meet and provided medicinal drug to keep malady , ” Fawcett add up in the sack .
Speaking to NBC News , he said he would be " very surprised if we see any other cases " .
It is reckon the patient shrink the infection from a domesticated bozo , who , Fawcett say , was " very pale " . Household pets can enamor plague if they hunt infected rodent or are bitten by septic fleas , and can then go past it on to human .
According to theCDC , cats are highly susceptible to pest and are a coarse source of it in man . They can transmitY. pestisvia bites , scratches , and bodily fluids , or indirectly through infected flea .
symptom ofplagueusually lead off two to eight days after exposure to an septic animal or flea , and may include sudden onslaught of fever , nausea , weakness , chill , brawn ache , and/or visibly swollen lymph knob telephone genus Bubo .
Although the risk of infestation spread is low in this case , Deschutes County Health Services offer some tips to help prevent it . These let in : avoiding all contact with rodents and their fleas ; keeping pets on a III when outdoors and protect them with flea ascendence products ; go along rodents out of home ; and tire out long , gather - in pants and insect repellant to reduce photo to flea .
The message of this clause is not intend to be a replacement for professional aesculapian advice , diagnosis , or treatment . Always seek the advice of certified health providers with head you may have regarding medical conditions .
