16th Case Of Human Plague In United States Reported In Oregon

A girl in Oregon contracted bubonic plague on a hunting trip, the 16th case of human plague in the United States this year, according to health officials.

The girl was on a hunting trip near Heppner, Oregon, in Morrow County and is believed to have gotten the disease from a flea bite, according to a press release.

She was hospitalized on October 24 and is recovering in the intensive care unit, the release said.

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It’s the 16th case of human plague in the United States this year, the highest since 2006, when the plague hit 17 victims, two of which died, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Many people think of the plague as a disease of the past, but it’s still very much present in our environment, particularly among wildlife,” Emilio DeBess, an Oregon public health veterinarian, said. “Fortunately, plague remains a rare disease, but people need to take appropriate precautions with wildlife and their pets to keep it that way.”

Plague is typically carried by rodents and transferred to humans when a flea bites an infected animal, then a person.

The release offered the following plague prevention tips for your next trip outdoors:

• Avoid sick or dead rodents, rabbits and squirrels, and their nests and burrows.
• Keep your pets from roaming and hunting.
  
• Talk to your veterinarian about using an appropriate flea control product on your pets.
  
• Clean up areas near the house where rodents could live, such as woodpiles, brush piles, junk and abandoned vehicles.
  
• Sick pets should be examined promptly by a veterinarian.
  
• See your doctor about any unexplained illness involving a sudden and severe fever.
  
• Put hay, wood, and compost piles as far as possible from your home.
  
• Don’t leave your pet’s food and water where mice can get to it.
  
• Veterinarians and their staff are at higher risk and should take precautions when seeing suspect animal plague cases.

Image via Moyan Brenn on Flickr/Creative Commons