Factoid of the day

I was watching a documentary on Bubonic plague, and they brought up the fact that Cats can get it, and theoretically could spread it via the pulmonary route (e.g. pulmonic plague, which kills faster and more deadly than the flea type).

from the CDC:
Persons also can become directly infected through handling infected rodents, rabbits, or wild carnivores that prey on these animals, when plague bacteria enter through breaks in the person's skin. House cats also are susceptible to plague. Infected cats become sick and may directly transmit plague to persons who handle or care for them. Also, dogs and cats may bring plague-infected fleas into the home. Inhaling droplets expelled by the coughing of a plague-infected person or animal (especially house cats) can result in plague of the lungs (plague pneumonia). Transmission of plague pneumonia from person to person is uncommon but sometimes results in dangerous epidemics that can quickly spread.

I was aware of the rodent problem with prarie dogs because a case or two would be diagnosed in the Navajo area every year. (Tony Hillerman even has it as a plot in one of his mysteries)

So maybe there was a reason for all those cat killings by superstitious medieval villagers:

Oregon cat diagnosed with bubonic plague

Christine Stone of the Oregon Health Authority says the cat has been treated with antibiotics and is recovering.

Stone says two people were diagnosed with the bubonic plague last year, and one dog. All survived.