A person in Wyoming has lessen sick with a rare but serious vitrine of pneumonic pestilence , reportedly catch the contagion from a pet cat .
The Wyoming Department of Health ( WDH)announcedon September 15 that the patient with pneumonic plague “ had striking with disturbed favorite cats . ” Cat owners demand not affright , however . While plague has a nasty reputation ( the deadliest pandemic in recorded story is n’t slap-up for PR ) , the risk of pestis in the US is blue , with between 1 to 17 cases each year , harmonize to theCDC .
The bacteria that cause pest ( Yersinia pestis ) has a lifecycle affect rodents and their fleas , both acting as long - terminal figure reservoir for the bacteria . Occasionally , the rodent or flea will transmit the bacteria to another species . This patient ’s adventuresome cat may have occur into physical contact with an infected gnawer while rooting around outdoors , then came into tight contact lens with the proprietor , infecting them with the bacterium .
Plague can also be channelize from individual to soul through close contact with someone who has pulmonic plague , so the WDH is notifying individuals who have made link with the infected patient and may demand a pre - emptive acid of antibiotic drug .
Yersinia pestisis best know as the pathogen that causedthe Black Deathin the form of bubonic plague . This was themost fatal pandemicrecorded in human story , responsible for the death of 75 to 200 million people . However , researchers have establish evidence of thebacteria in Orion - gathererswho died over 5,000 - years - ago .
Plaguewas first introduced into the US in the early 20th century via rat - ridden ships . Most cases of the plague in the US have tended to be isolated to the westerly side of the country , in the main Northern New Mexico , northern Arizona , southern Colorado , California , southern Oregon , and far westerly Nevada .
However , most late cases in the US have been bubonic plague , not pneumonic pestilence . The disease comes inthree forms : bubonic , pulmonary , and septicaemic . Bubonic is the most common form of the disease , most often air to man from a flea bite . Along with a fever , headache , chills , and helplessness , it can also lead to one or more sorely swollen lymph node called genus Bubo . allow untreated , it can spread to other parts of the body .
Pneumonic plague is look at more contagious . It is spread person - to - mortal through droplets in the air travel , or if untreated bubonic or septicemic pestilence spreads to the lungs . This flesh make symptoms including feverishness , headache , and weakness . It also causes apace formulate pneumonia with shortness of breath , thorax pain , cough , and sometimes bloody mucous . All form of the disease can prove deadly , although it can be treated with antibiotics if caught early .
Dr Alexia Harrist , state wellness military officer and Department of State epidemiologist with WDH , explained the danger of contracting infestation in Wyoming is very modest . That said , the disease has been documented throughout the United States Department of State in domestic and gaga animals before , so it ’s knowing to appease cautious if you ’re going near known rodent home ground .
“ It ’s safe to assume that the danger for plague exists all around our Department of State , ” Dr Harrist say in astatement . “ While the disease is rare in humans , it is important for people to take precautions to reduce exposure and to look for straightaway aesculapian care if symptom logical with infestation develop . ”
