Infected by his cat, a man contracts bubonic plague, a rare disease responsible for the Black Death in the Middle Ages

Le patient a probablement été infecté par son chat. ILLUSTRATION MAXPPP – Anas Alkharboutli

Le patient, résident du comté de Deschutes, dans le nord-ouest des Etats-Unis a "probablement été infecté par son chat". 

A rare human case of bubonic plague was recently identified in the United States, in Oregon, according to local health authorities, cited by Franceinfo this Wednesday, February 14.

This disease, which caused the Black Death, a pandemic that killed at least a third of the European population in the Middle Ages, is rare in developed countries and can now be treated, but it remains potentially dangerous: if it If not diagnosed in time, it can develop into septicemic plague – an infection of the bloodstream – or pneumonic plague, thus affecting the lungs. Two illnesses that are much more serious. 

"Little risk to the community"

The confirmed case in the United States is that of a resident of Deschute County (Oregon) in the northwest of the United States. He is currently being treated and was probably infected by his cat

"Fortunately, this case was identified and treated in the early stages of the disease, posing little risk to the community", assured the authorities in a press release. "No other cases of plague appeared during the investigation", authorities said, indicating However, the symptoms of plague – which can include fever, nausea, chills and muscle pain – appear up to eight days after exposure to a sick animal or flea.

Seven cases of plague per year on average

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the main federal health agency, an average of seven cases of plague in humans are recorded each year in the United States.

In Oregon, the last reported case of bubonic plague dates back to 2015, according to the health administration of this state of more than 4.2 million inhabitants.