In the News: Oregon man recovering from bubonic plague

A recent (July 18, 2012) news story tells of an Oregon welder who became very ill and almost died of bubonic plague.  He’s still recovering from this ancient bacterial disease spread by fleas.  The exposure to bubonic plague happened when the man was bit on the hand by his cat. The cat was trying to eat a rodent (a flea infested rodent) and began choking.  When the man tried to help the cat, the cat bit him and the bacteria entered his body through the bite.   More information about this story can be found at http://news.yahoo.com/oregon-man-recovering-rare-case-bubonic-plague-220749129.html

History tells us that in 1347 AD, approximately 25 million Europeans died from bubonic plague.   This infectious bacterial disease was called “Black Death” because the person’s skin blackened.  During this Middle Ages epidemic, the plague was spread by fleas found on rats.  More information next time on t treatment for bubonic plague and how our Oregon man’s recovery is going.