A cat has been infected with bubonic plague in western America, sparking urgent health warnings.
Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) said it was making people aware of a potential threat in the cat’s home area of Johnson County.
No human cases have been identified, but WDH said it was the state’s third plague-infected feline in the space of six months. There are about seven human plague cases a year in the United States.
Dr Alexia Harrist, health officer and epidemiologist at WDH, said: “Plague is a serious bacterial infection that can be deadly for pets and people if not treated as soon as possible with antibiotics.
“The disease can be passed to humans from ill animals and by fleas coming from infected animals. We are letting people know of the potential threat in the cat’s home area as well as across the state.
“While the disease is rare in humans, plague occurs naturally in the western United States in areas where rodents and their fleas become infected.”
Recommended precautions to help prevent plague infection include using insect repellent on boots and trousers in areas that might have fleas, as well as on pets. People are also advised to “avoid unnecessary exposure to rodents”.
Plague symptoms in people can include fever, swollen and tender lymph glands, extreme exhaustion, headache, chills, coughing, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.
