Plague Confirmed in Johnson County Cat

The plague has been confirmed in a cat in Johnson County.
The Wyoming Department of Health confirmed that the Kaycee feline was known to wander outdoors. This is the third plague-infected cat identified in Wyoming over the past six months; the others were in Sheridan and Campbell counties.
Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH, says that Plague is a serious bacterial infection that can be deadly for pets and people if not treated as soon as possible with antibiotics, pointing out that the disease can be passed to humans from ill animals and by fleas coming from infected animals. Plague symptoms in pets can include enlarged lymph glands; swelling in the neck, face or around the ears; fever; chills; lack of energy; coughing; vomiting; diarrhea and dehydration.
Only six human cases of plague have been exposed in Wyoming since 1978 with the last one investigated in 2008. Experts at the Department of Health say there is an average of seven human plague cases each year in the United States.
Recommended precautions to help prevent plague infection include using insect repellent on boots and pants when in areas that might have fleas and avoid unnecessary exposure to rodents.