There has been a confirmed case of bubonic plague in a resident of Oregon, according to state officials. They assure the community that there is minimal risk.
A resident in Bend, Oregon has been diagnosed with bubonic plague by public health officials. It is believed that the individual contracted the disease from their pet cat.
Dr. Richard Fawcett, the health officer for Deschutes County, stated last week that all individuals and the cat who were in close contact have been contacted and given medication.
On Wednesday, the county announced that the case had been detected and addressed in its initial phases, and does not present a significant threat to the community.
According to county health services, signs of bubonic plague may include a sudden fever, feeling nauseous, weakness, chills, and muscle pain. These symptoms typically appear two to eight days after coming into contact with an infected animal or flea.
If not caught early, bubonic plague can result in infections in the bloodstream and lungs. These variations of the illness are more serious and challenging to cure.
The most recent instance of bubonic plague being reported in Oregon was in 2015.
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This story has been updated to correct that the report was from Wednesday, Feb. 7, not Monday, Feb. 12.