Here’s How Much You Should Panic About Bubonic Plague
Oregon has just reported its first case of bubonic plague in years —yes, the same bubonic plague responsible for the historic Black Death pandemics. But don’t panic just yet. Plague is more common than you think, and it’s also easier to treat.
In fact, several cases of bubonic plague are reported every year.
Judging by the headlines, you would think this was the first case of plague in the United States . in eight years or the first in the world in eight years. In fact, this is only the first case in Oregon since 2015. There have been cases in other states and other parts of the world. Plague is not absent from the modern world, it is simply rare.
In 2020, the latest year on the plague statistics page, there were nine cases (two deaths) reported in the United States, according to the CDC. There was only one case each in 2018 and 2019, but five cases in 2017 and as many as 16 in 2015. This 2015 mini-outbreak is the latest case of plague specifically in Oregon.
Why such a constant flow of cases? Because rodent populations, especially in the southwest, are always at low levels of plague. (Researchers believe the plague originally originated in rodents, possibly marmots, in Central Asia; it later spread to rats and is now circulating among prairie dogs in the United States.)
This is why it’s best to stay away from sick or dead rodents. In a recent case in Oregon, a man appears to have contracted the plague from his cat. We don’t know for sure where the cat became infected, but it is possible that the cat became infected from a local wild rodent (or its fleas).
Antibiotics are effective against bubonic plague
Plague sounds scary because we have heard stories of plague pandemics in medieval Europe. And of course, if you lived in medieval Europe and contracted the plague, you’d be screwed.
But the plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis . This bacterium can be killed with modern antibiotics. It is important to start treatment promptly as this disease can still be fatal, and the sooner you start treatment, the better.
The CDC recommends seeking medical help as soon as you suspect you have plague. Tell your doctor if you have recently been to (or live in) the western United States. One of the characteristic symptoms of plague is an extremely swollen and painful lymph node called the bubo. Your doctor can test your blood or bubo for signs of plague and give you appropriate treatment.
How to protect yourself from the plague
The CDC has a list of plague prevention tips here . Remember that this is a rare disease, so the plague is unlikely to come to you personally. But here are some smart precautions:
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Keep rodents away from your home (for example, by removing brush piles and food sources near your home).
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Use insect repellent on yourself and your pets to reduce the likelihood of flea bites.
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If your dog or cat roams freely in plague-endemic areas, do not allow them to sleep on your bed.
Where are these plague-endemic areas located? The CDC reports that most cases of plague originate from northern Arizona, northern New Mexico, southern Colorado, southern Oregon, California and western Nevada.