Plague Cats
Plague is an ancient bacterial enemy of humankind, responsible for killing countless people and dooming a civilization or two. Antibiotics and better sanitation have thankfully made it rare these days, particularly in countries like the U.S. But plenty of animals can carry the bacteria, and it still occasionally sickens people here. In September, Wyoming health officials reported that a woman had contracted plague—only the seventh case reported in the state since 1978. They suspect that she caught it from “sick pet cats.”
Unfortunately, she developed pneumonic plague, a rare but life-threatening form of the infection. Though pneumonic plague can be treated with antibiotics, officials told Gizmodo at the time that the women remained in serious condition. And it seems there have been no updates on her case since then.
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