Case of bubonic plague reported in Colorado

The recent report of a case of bubonic plague in Colorado has raised concerns among public health officials and the general population. The bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is a serious infectious disease that can be fatal if not treated promptly.

Historically known as the "Black Death," the bubonic plague has been responsible for devastating pandemics throughout human history. While modern medicine has made significant advancements in treating and preventing the disease, it remains a serious public health threat that must be taken seriously.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are seven human cases of plague per year in the U.S., and in February, Oregon officials reported it in a person who likely got it from their sick cat.

There is currently no vaccine available in the U.S. that can prevent plague infection, though there are steps you can take, including wearing insect repellent and applying flea control products to pets, to reduce the risk of infection. Today, however, most plague cases don’t result in death because of advances in treatment, including with commonly available antibiotics—though untreated cases can be fatal. The overall risk of death for all types of plague in the U.S., according to Mayo Clinic, is around 11%.

The most important factor for survival is that medical attention begins promptly. Symptoms to watch out for include swollen lymph nodes, sudden fever, head and body aches, weakness, vomiting and nausea, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough, particularly with bloody mucus.

The World Health Organization reports that “plague can be a very severe disease in people, with a case-fatality ratio of 30% to 60% for the bubonic type, and is always fatal for the pneumonic kind when left untreated.”

Because antibiotics are effective against plague, it’s important to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, WHO warns.

The CDC article notes that “During plague epizootics, many rodents die, causing hungry fleas to seek other sources of blood. People and animals that visit places where rodents have recently died from plague are at risk of being infected from flea bites. Dogs and cats may also bring plague-infected fleas into the home. Flea bite exposure may result in primary bubonic plague or septicemic plague.”

Health officials advise that individuals avoid contact with dead animals and make sure that their pets are up to date on their flea medications in order to minimize possible exposure to the plague.

Between 1970 and 2020, there were nearly 500 cases of human plague reported in the US — about seven cases on average each year, according to the CDC.

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Sarah H

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