A rare case of human plague was reported in Oregon in January 2024, where a man contracted the disease after coming into contact with an infected cat that had been treated for a neck abscess and vomiting. The bacteria Yersinia pestis, which causes plague, is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected rodent flea or handling of infected animals.
The patient, a 73-year-old man, developed symptoms including cellulitis and lymphadenitis after cutting his finger while caring for the cat. He was treated with antibiotics and made a full recovery. However, the cat died due to the infection, highlighting the importance of proper treatment and precautions when dealing with infected animals.
This case highlights the potential for plague transmission through animal-to-human contact, particularly in areas where the disease is endemic. It also underscores the need for public health messaging and diagnostic efforts regarding plague to be year-round, rather than seasonal. The patient’s early-onset symptoms may indicate a shift in the seasonality of plague incidence, but more research is needed to understand the underlying factors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that flea eggs can hatch in temperatures as low as 50°F (10°C), making it possible for plague transmission to occur year-round. Regular treatment of pets and their surroundings for fleas may help reduce the risk of infection with pathogens transmitted by fleas.
As the weather warms up, public health officials should remain vigilant for potential outbreaks of plague and other vector-borne diseases that can emerge or reemerge with changes in climate and environmental factors.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7426a2.htm