Rare Bubonic Plague Case Detected In Rural Oregon: Spread Unlikely, Officials Say (image/pixabay)
The bubonic plague might sound like a thing of the past, but a case in rural Oregon was diagnosed last week, making the state’s first confirmed case of the rare bacterial infection since 2015.
Reportedly, the person was potentially infected by their sick domestic cat, which also showed symptoms. The individual was promptly treated and health officials state that there is little risk of the disease spreading.
Even though the disease is exceedingly rare in the twenty-first century, a handful of cases are reported each year. However, the treatment and prevention methods are advanced, preventing its spreading. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common antibiotics to treat the disease include gentamicin and fluoroquinolones.
Infamous for wiping out half the population of Europe during the Middle Ages, the reason why the bacterium Yersinia pestis continues to exist is the animal reservoir. Small animals are more prone to getting infected, resulting in occasional human cases.
Each year in the US, around seven cases are reported, specifically in rural Southwest and Northwest regions.
Symptoms of the disease are noticeable around two to eight days after exposure, including swollen lymph nodes, fever, weakness and headache. If detected early, the disease is easily diagnosed and treatable, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Deschutes County Health Services states that if early detection is failed, the condition can progress to infections in the bloodstream or lungs, making it more difficult to treat.
The officials clarified that there was no need to panic as the disease is easily detectable and treatable with the help of modern antibiotics. Once the affected individual and their immediate contacts are treated, the risk of spreading is severely low.
Dogs, cats, squirrels, chipmunks and other rodents are typically prone to getting infected. Notably, in the Middle Ages, the disease was spread by fleas carried by rats resulting in a pandemic called the Black Death.
