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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2024)
Page 4 February 21, 2024 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2024 Oregon Resident Diagnosed with the Plague A Few Things to Know About the Illness Officials in central Oregon this week reported a case of bubonic plague in a resident who likely got the disease from a sick pet cat. The infected resident and the resident’s close contacts have all been provided medication, public health officials say, and people in the community are not believed to be at risk. The cat was also treated but did not survive. Plague isn’t common, but it also isn’t unheard of in the western United States, where a handful of cases occur every year. It’s different from Alaska- pox, a rare, recently discovered disease that killed a man in Alaska last month. Plague is an infectious disease that can affect mammals. It’s caused by the bac- terium Yersinia pestis, which is carried by rodents and fleas. Sunlight and drying can kill plague bacteria on surfaces, ac- cording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Humans and pets suspected to be sick with plague are typically treated with antibiotics, and sometimes with other medical measures. Plague symptoms can manifest in a few ways. Bubonic plague — the kind contracted by the Oregon resident — A bubonic plague warning sign is displayed at a parking lot near the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) happens when the plague bacteria gets into the lymph nodes. It can cause fever, headache, weakness and painful, swol- len lymph nodes. It usually happens from the bite of an infected flea, accord- ing to the CDC. Septicemic plague symptoms happen if the bacteria gets into the bloodstream. It can occur initially or after bubon- ic plague goes untreated. This form of plague causes the same fever, chills and weakness, as well as abdominal pain, shock and sometimes other symptoms like bleeding into the skin and blackened fingers, toes or the nose. The CDC says this form comes from flea bites or from handling an infected animal. Pneumonic plague is the most serious form of the disease, and it occurs when the bacteria gets into the lungs. Pneumonic plague adds rapidly developing pneumo- nia to the list of plague symptoms. It is the only form of plague that can be spread from person to person by inhaling infec- tious droplets. All forms of plague are treatable with common antibiotics, and people who seek treatment early have a better chance of a full recovery, according to the CDC. Questions about your health care? Find us in your neighborhood. FEBRUARY 22 MARCH 7 Mobile Showers Mobile Showers 12-2 p.m. 4244 SE 91st Ave, Portland 12-2 p.m. 4244 SE 91st Ave, Portland FEBRUARY 26 MARCH 11 Doreen’s Place (for residents only) 12-2:30 p.m. 610 NW Broadway St, Portland FEBRUARY 27 Union Gospel Mission 2-3 p.m. 3 NW 3rd Ave, Portland MARCH 4 Mobile Showers 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 4244 SE 91st Ave, Portland MARCH 5 Resource Center 9-11 a.m. 650 NW Irving St, Portland River District Navigation Center (for residents only) Clark Center (for residents only) 9-10:30 a.m. 1437 SE MLK Blvd, Portland Doreen’s Place (for residents only) 12-2:30 p.m. 610 NW Broadway St, Portland MARCH 12 Union Gospel Mission 2-3 p.m. 3 NW 3rd Ave, Portland MARCH 18 Mobile Showers 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 4244 SE 91st Ave, Portland 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 1111 NW Naito Pkwy, Portland Jean’s Place (for residents only) careoregon.org/ connect-to-care 1:30-3:30 p.m. 18 NE 11th Ave, Portland connect to care
