Oregon Girl With Bubonic Plague Moved out of Intensive Care

A 16-year-old Crook County girl has been diagnosed with bubonic plague, Oregon health officials confirmed.

The Oregon Health Authority said the girl likely acquired the disease from a flea bite during a hunting trip near Heppner on Oct. 16. She got sick five days later and was admitted to the intensive care unit at a Bend hospital.

On Friday, the girl was moved out of intensive care.

“The challenge in Oregon is both avoiding it in the first place, and then, making sure that people, especially in eastern Oregon, are aware that while rare, it’s present and to make sure that doctors also know,” said Katrina Hedberg, state epidemiologist and health officer . . .

“Many people think of the plague as a disease of the past, but it’s still very much present in our environment, particularly among wildlife,” said state public health veterinarian Emilio DeBess. “Fortunately, plague remains a rare disease, but people need to take appropriate precautions with wildlife and their pets to keep it that way.” (Read more from “Oregon Girl With Bubonic Plague Moved out of Intensive Care” HERE)

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