Overview

• Health officials in Deschutes County, Oregon, confirmed the state's first case of human plague since 2015, likely contracted from the patient's pet cat.
• The infected individual was treated in the early stages of the disease, significantly reducing the risk to the community.
• Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, can manifest in three forms: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic, with bubonic being the most common in the U.S.
• The disease can be transmitted to humans through flea bites or direct contact with infected animals, including pets.
• Early treatment with antibiotics is crucial for recovery, especially to prevent the more lethal pneumonic plague.