Health officials in Deschutes County, Oregon, sounded the alarm after confirming a local caught the bubonic plague from their household pet, a scenario not seen in the state for nearly a decade, OregonLive reported.
The plague-stricken resident, whose cat succumbed to the disease, was treated promptly, and public health authorities claimed the risk of a community spread is minimal despite the serious nature of the infection which symptoms include sudden fever, nausea, and muscle aches developing two to eight days post contact with the infection, often through a critter or flea; officials advised against panic since the affected have received medications, NY1 detailed.
Emily Horton, public health program manager at Deschutes County Health Services, explained the link between the pet cat's illness and its likely contact with an infected rodent — a common occurrence among the rodent populations in the West; Horton encouraged pet owners to safeguard their animals from potential carriers like mice, reports OregonLive.
Oregon health authorities, who identified the infection and provided prophylactic antibiotics to those at risk are focusing efforts to forestall additional cases, and Dr. Richard Fawcett, the health officer for Deschutes County mentioned that the infected individual lived near Portland and was likely infected by the household feline, which emphasizes the need for caution among pet owners, as per USA Today.
The case, a rarity that last cropped up in the state in 2015, is a reminder of the historic threats that continue to linger in the modern age, and while treatments are available, officials urge early detection as critical to ensuring a non-lethal outcome; the deceased cat a stark warning for the importance of vigilance amongst pet parents, especially in regions with notable wildlife.
