Plague confirmed in three South Fork area cats

Posted 4/22/16

The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory confirmed the first case of plague on April 12 and confirmed the third on Wednesday.

Plague is a serious bacterial infection and can be deadly for people or animals if not treated promptly with antibiotics, …

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Plague confirmed in three South Fork area cats

Posted

Three Cody area cats have been infected with plague, the Wyoming Department of Health announced on Thursday.

All three of the cats lived off the South Fork Road, the department said in a news release. There are no reports of people being infected.

The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory confirmed the first case of plague on April 12 and confirmed the third on Wednesday.

Plague is a serious bacterial infection and can be deadly for people or animals if not treated promptly with antibiotics, said State Public Health Veterinarian Karl Musgrave. The bacteria can be spread to humans by sick animals or by fleas that have fed on sick animals.

“We want people to know of the potential threat in the area the cats were from as well as across the state. Dogs can also become ill and transmit the disease,” Musgrave said in Thursday's release. “While the disease is rare in humans, it’s safe to assume that the risk for plague exists all around Wyoming.”

Several house cats in the southeastern part of the state became infected with plague in 2005 and another case was confirmed in the rural, western part of Laramie County last October. In this northwestern part of the state, four mountain lions in the Greater Yellowstone Area/Teton County were confirmed to have died of plague between 2005 and 2006, according to past Reuters and Associated Press reports.  

Since 1978, six people have been infected with plague in Wyoming. The most recent case was in 2008, when a Boy Scout became ill after visiting Yellowstone National Park and parts of Teton County. Four mountain lions in the Greater Yellowstone Area also tested positive for the disease between 2005 and 2008, University of Wyoming researchers have said.

Musgrave recommends taking the following precautions to help prevent plague infections:

Plague symptoms in animals can include enlarged lymph glands; swelling in the neck, face or around the ears; fever; chills; lack of energy; coughing; vomiting; diarrhea and dehydration. Ill animals should be taken to a veterinarian, Musgrave said.

Plague symptoms in people can include fever, swollen and tender lymph glands, extreme exhaustion, headache, chills, coughing, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. People who are ill should seek professional medical attention.

More information about plague is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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